1. 1. Why do you think Barnett Newman's "Onement VI" is considered art?

What do you think are its functions and powers? (10 points)
In my view of why I think Barnett Newman’s “Onement VI” is art comes down to
two main reasons that is personal to how I view art around me. That is effort and
interpretation from both viewer and artist. So first the word of when I mean
“effort” is the contribution to any of every form no matter how miniscule or
gigantic the effort is. To me when I see art it is in the form that was put some
thought into even if it’s copied or inspired rather than created. This can be
anything from simply drawing a triangle that was made from a 4 year old with the
use of such as a pencil versus trying to use create the “Onement VI” artwork.
Though these examples may seem very extreme from both ends of the spectrum
what considers a 4 year old to the same equal level plain field of Barnett
Newman artistic mindsets is that both of them at least showed effort in the end
of the day. The fact that both of them intended to create some sort of
results/accomplishments allows both the triangle and Onement VI to be in the
realm of art. Of course this doesn’t mean that the characteristics of what makes
an artwork better than the other such as quality, time, hardships, patience, and
preciseness is equal to each other because Newman’s art would always triumph
that of what a 4 year old can make but is more or less an acknowledgement that
both at least to some degree “tried” at one point and finished. Second reasoning
is interpretation. Everyone has their tastes, likes, dislikes, preference, disgusts,
views and overall opinion of art. Because of everyone’s differences the
perception of “what is art” will differentiate and vary from person to person. The
result of this is that because most people see “Onement VI” in a scale defined
independently our judgements are created thus we are technically
judging/rating a work of some sort from a view of seeing art as a viewer.
The powers/functions the artwork conveys is strongly composed of
geometrical figure shape. This function strives for an equal and symmetrical
outlook. Art by enlarge in reference to the functions is interpreted in various
meaningful ways that challenges viewers to sometimes think outside the box as
a concrete decision process for one to make up their mind. With this is the
diversion of thinking of how each one perceives functional and meaning to the
viewing around us. Onement VI is no exception as a standard to help diversify in
thinking artistically in relating to that of the functional and purposeful
commitment that the artist positioned themselves into.

2. Explain why Francisco de Goya's "Third of May" captures the horrors of

war. What are these "horrors"? (10 Points)
So the viewing of Francisco de Goya’s “Third of May” captures horrors of war
because the artwork itself has stronger definition in how to define what
horror is in war by seeing the artwork rather than any “wordy” phrase,
sentences, paragraphs, or description that would not nearly come close.
When I see the artwork this reminds of the famous saying of “not even words
can be enough to describe” kind of feeling. What I mean by this is that in the
intricacy of what can be seen by everybody can easily tell that this is an
example of “horrors in war”. Seeing soldiers carrying orders to slaughter for
 the sake of their ideology, country, race, religion, politics, and overall loyalty
to that “something” is more than a onetime occurrence in this picture but a
trend that has been going on since humanity’s existence. But this picture
however is special because it relays the horror in a remindful warning that
we do desensitize our moral compass if ever motivated enough to do so. In
this picture we see that soldiers are shooting they’re perceived enemies not
as humans anymore but an obstacle that they have to fulfill through
slaughter. Seeing blood, weapons being aimed, shock, fear, disgust,
weakness, and the bystanders (or people also next in line to get killed) sets a
theme of horrors in war. When we think of horrors in war the picture that can
be described by itself is the prime example of what make warfare a “horror”
than to plainly describe by words rather than pictures such as this one.
The “horrors” that can be described is the loss of humanity. To me and probably
to most people we feel “horrified/horror” when a sense of humanity is losing in
us or near us. This is a reason why soldiers are feared because in war they need
to see a “you vs me” mentality and to do so is for one to train the soldier to lose
his perception of humanity to his eyes and replace with it “hostile, enemy,
target, threat, inferior”, and other compassionless words to make it seem that
their opponents were never human to begin with. Additionally those in the
receiving end especially the innocent feel “horror” because they know that their
life will end. To lose humanity not just in a mental but in a literal physical sense is
scary to lose because that basically means you’re going to die! In the result of
this is an example of one of humanity’s worst actions we can do to each other
despite many advances this picture is a reminder that even though the artwork
may be old the feelings will never “age” and is something we have to deal with it
in a basis in our lifetime.

3. Why do you think it is important to honor indigenous cultural masters with

awards and recognitions such as the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan Award?
(10 points)
The “Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan Award” is important because it can be
used for inspiration and a sense of pride in identity. When viewing this
from the lenses of pride itself this means that the awarding of Gawad
Manlilikha ng Bayan Award gives people an idea that art isn’t just about
the quality in terms of inspiration from the outside of our country but is
also a form to let us know that our form of art is just as reputable. This
means that Filipino artist are legitimate in what makes our culture
valuable. An example is that artists who do actually put the effort to
represent Filipino culture not by words but through the redefinition in art
is the best way to showoff what makes us Filipinos special in our own
rights. If we do not award people for the merits that they do not get for,
then we also don’t get to celebrate the specialty of our own uniqueness as
a culture because there wouldn’t be any visual representation.
Additionally awards also inspire people. The inspiration of allowing people
 to be motivated to be like someone else or maybe even better allows for
an encouragement to help our country maintain its values and culture in
the form that someone will be rewarded if they follow too.

4. Identify the elements and principles of art in painting of Frida Kahlo

entitled "The Two Fridas". (20 points)
When seeing the art “The Two Fridas” many elements and principles can
be seen. The lines in the picture are actual and set clear expression of
what the art looks like. Color in the art is more blueish and a bit sad.
Reason for my judgement is that the colors are tinted to display sadness.
In terms of form the artist uses simulated form. Purpose of this type of
form is to covey a light and shadow effect on the characters when looking
at them. Spacing in the artwork is designed around being flat. Flat in the
sense that the background of the artwork is in line with that of the two
females seen. Lastly we have texture that is visual texture. In this sense
this means that we see art in a 2-D format rather.
The principles of the art will go through many ideas such as balance,
proportion, unity/variety, movement, emphasis/contrast, and rhythm. In
the balance of the artwork it look as though there isn’t an obvious side
leaning for favoring right or left. Generally to the eye the art is
symmetrical doesn’t really cause any favorability to one side or the other.
The proportion that the art goes for is “natural”. Looking at the artwork
means that the art itself is in real size to what we would see if the
characters were in a way “alive”. This creates a sense of realism that for
me is cool to imagine. When seeing the artwork in the perceptions of its
variety it is visible through the different dresses the partners have. The
dominant white color compared to the stronger blue and green allow for
the eye to see with ease in separate colors rather than constantly
scanning a uniform color. To my experience this is pleasant for the eye to
see something a little different every now and then. Movement in the art is
generally not that much. Taking into account that the main characters
there are actually sitting as though they are about to take a picture makes
my visuals and direction of viewing in a standstill. The feeling is mostly as
that the artwork itself is staring or looking at me and doesn’t look as
though it’s trying to convince viewers to look in certain directions in any
way. Lastly there is the regular rhythm in the artwork. Rhythm in this
context is overwhelmingly regular for the reasons that much differences in
the intervals of seeing how the artwork looks. There isn’t any “surprises”
in the colors chosen as the background is in a thunderstorm looking
background with not much color variation except for the two dresses
shown.