Online Art

    This week I searched videos and pictures galore for my new wikispace page on Susan Komen. What did I find? Well, nothing on Susan herself of course. Although I do wish that there was more about the reason the Komen Foundation was created, I did find numerous videos about the organization itself. Most of which I was already aware of. Such as the huge commotion that occurred this past 2012 year when the Foundation decided to defund and cut ties with Planned Parenthood. I remember this happening, however I didn't really think much of it at the time. During my time watching the videos, I was surprised at how many people supported the Foundation's choice to cut their ties. Why I was surprised I am not sure because I am fully aware of how many people disagree with abortions and Planned Parenthood in general. I think what I am most surprised about it how ruthless people can be. I am just not the type of person to nationally complain about something or a person who would rally for a cause. I admire these people who do however, because their perseverance really does and did pay off---the Foundation reversed their initial decision and once again became affiliated with Planned Parenthood.
    This week I also browed a few different websites in regards to art and online art galleries. Throughout my search, I found that I had an interest in realism art work. Realism in the art world is exactly as it sounds. The pictures and paintings are created to depict people as they are considered to exist in an objective third person reality. This I just love. You look at a painting of people doing ordinary things, such as standing in a pasture, and you are left with your imagination to decide what kind of person the artist was thinking when they created it, who is that person, why do they look sad or happy? It's fantastic and interesting to analyze. Throughout searching for realism artist, I came across my new favorite whose name is David Kassan. David creates life-size realist portraits that are so incredible you could mistake his paintings for actual photos. Each portrait says something about the person he is replicating. Whether it be a saddened scene or a facial expression, it is up to the viewer to interpret. The life that he is able to bring to a bunch of tediously placed paint colors along with the fact that each painting has such a deeper meaning that I am able to interpret is why I enjoy his artwork so much.

    Online art galleries are somewhat of a new thing. Some people may believe that it takes away from the experience that traditional art showings in museums hold. However, online art galleries allow millions of people to view and experience something beautiful that they may have never had to the chance to do it if weren't for the Web. These sites also have an added bonus. Many of them allow viewers to post comments on the artwork which brings people together and allows for many different views to be understood and expressed---after all, that is the point of art right? Artists create these masterpieces to share with the world. What better way to do that than over the Web. But these comments can have an even larger impact than just on other viewers alone. They can impact the artist. They allow for the artist to see, read, and analyze how their viewers view their work. If they feel viewers are getting a message different than what the artist is trying to depict, he or she can alter what they are doing to achieve that goal. So in essence, what people say about the art over the Web impacts the development of art because it may alter the artists desires.
    Some artists and websites create their pieces to send messages and opinions about many current day issues. An example of this would be the many artists who paint to express the ever growing issue of poverty. Most of these artists indirectly relay their message through their work. They don't paint in huge letters, "poverty." Rather, they express it through the scene and leave it to us to understand what they are trying to say. Although with some artwork this can be difficult, directly giving the world artwork depicting poverty could be rather negative due to the sadness of the topic.

     As amazing as the online arts may be, it can also change people's perceptions, cultures, and society as a whole as compared to traditionally viewing artwork. Some people believe, as I have stated, that it is a negative change in perception because it takes away from the reality of the work. However, I disagree. Our world is ever changing and technology is the leader. Digital media allows people to be more involved in the work they are viewing. They can offer their opinions to millions of other viewers or express their dislike, therefore altering and strengthening the art trend into something that calls out to it's viewers. It also brings cultures together in a way that may have never happened before. It allows people to understand other cultures and beliefs and hopefully allows those who were previously unwilling to have interest in people of a different race or culture to have the desire to expand their world and their understanding.