I really thought the paintings were a glorification of the female form. After the discussion that it was the opposite, it got me to thinking. Isn't it something that the bodies are being painted and not locked away? That they're being celebrated (celebrated that is not like in a modern pornographic sense). Anyway, I don't really know what I'm typing about anymore. I just think that there are always two views on things (or maybe even more).

This coming week will be all about architecture. I was on my way home when I noticed the structures in Manila. I find it sad that we have buildings here that looked good before and now they're trashed. Everything is dirty and dilapitated. If it had received proper maintenance, walking through Manila would probably feel like strolling in the streets of Saschen-Anhalt or Hessen or Rome. They were built during the colonial period (which was pretty obvious looking at the types of windows, doors, crowns and roof, oh and the rails too). It's one of the things I don't like about our country. We can't seem to take care of what we have. We have this tendency to destroy and put things for granted. I'm not saying that other countries don't do this too but I live here, I notice it and it's just sad to see how beauty is wasted on us.

I just want to share my answer as to what the similarity is of the pictures shown last meeting (Monday). To refresh memories, the pictures were paintings of naked women. I saw that aside from being naked, the painting portray a celebration of the feminine form. The hips, the breasts, the curves. All those would traditionally pertain to a woman (I say traditionally because nowadays people think women should look like skinny prepubescent boys). Woman is soft, she is tender, there is a fullness to her because she is what gives life.

That's basically it.

Let me share with you a very interesting video (it is related to art). I never thought that Michael Bolton could sing opera.

I do agree that talking about the Mona Lisa is getting a little tiring now. I sort of wish we had time to take on another painting or that we'd move on to the next topic. I have the tendency to tire of things easily and that doesn't mean I don't like whatever it is or what not. I just like tackling lots of things.

I look forward to the discussion about music and sculpture. I do wonder what piece the class will be studying. Half of me wishes the topic would be about something I already know about so that I would be more interested and further my knowledge about it and the other half wishes that it would be something new to me. I like learning, I like finding about things.

There was another group activity and it was hard to do given the small time we had and that my group mates and I did not share the same schedule. Also, we have different thought patterns. This uniqueness in us is all good and fun but then when it comes to works such as these it's quite troublesome because the product is almost always half baked and somewhat mediocre. I'm not trying to be a bad person, but I just think we could have done better. And given that no one was the leader type in our small group made it even taxing for us.

Blogging is somewhat of a chore for me. Take note, somewhat, not completely. I'm just not really much of a writer. About the current lesson, I must say, I like it better than film. I've always been fascinated by paintings. Not all though. I've always been partial when it comes to the style and the era of a painting (I don't really know much about these, only a little). I have no idea as to why I like paintings over film when it comes to things like this but maybe one of the reasons is that there a certain romance in them. I'm not talking about romance as in kilig but as how the world used to be. Chivalry, courtly love (which is kinda stupid and not really worth it), a certain adoration or admiration. I know I'm not making any real sense because this thing is really hard to describe. I just think that there's something in certain or some paintings that drive you somewhere. Like you're in another time or world.

The week has been about the Mona Lisa. People say she looks like a man. I beg to differ. I think she actually pretty. The nose is thin and aquiline. There's a softness in her lips and the curves are feminine. The gaze is somewhat gentle and the cheeks are full. But then again we all have a different idea of what looks good or what kind of face is visually pleasing.

The week was spent studying more aspects of film. I'm not quite sure if it was last Wednesday or if it was last Friday when we were asked to write down the title of the movie that had the greatest impact on us. I couldn't really pick one because I don't remember which movie moved me greatly. I eventually wrote down Devdas and Immortal Beloved because they were highly emotional and watching them never gets old.

Why Devdas?

Aside from tragedy being appealing, it had a really nice story. I don't think I've seen a movie that focuses on the aftermath of romance. I was also very fascinated by the attack on my visual senses. So much color even in scenes that are supposed to depict emptiness or sadness, and it actually works. Also, it opened me to Bollywood(although I haven't seen any other one yet). I also saw a big difference in how camera techniques and basically all the elements of film were used.

Immortal Beloved--

Aside from the fact that it left me teary eyed at the end, I connected with it since it was about music (and more tragedy). It was fun for me to see someone I consider highly talented and almost not human as an ordinary person. I may not have been able to relate to the events but the whole movie still gripped me because I used to look around the web for the immortal beloved letters. I did manage to find 3.

I don't know, I guess we all have different reasons for liking a certain movie. The impact is also not the same for everyone. I can't really explain why but I think it's because all people come from different walks of life and have varying personalities and so appreciation unique. It's like movies, or whatever it is, touches a certain part of in one person, may it be what makes that person or a memory, and touches another in someone else.