ENGA11H3 Study Guide - Final Guide: Memento Mori, Domestic Canary
Oral Exam Notes
Part 1a:
- What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of artistic value, it is something
that has meaning, something that looks good or how much it is worth. When I think about
artistic value, I think about something that has meaning to me, something that I can relate
to. I perceive something with artistic value as something that I can see myself in and after
listening to my presentation, I hope you can as well.
- I decided to make something that had artistic value for me. (Pull it out). I made this model
myself instead of finding something online because an artwork can only have true artistic
value if it has complete meaning to you and I believe this models captures not only what
artistic value is to me, but also how it provides insight into the human condition, modern
culture and modern society.
Human Condition:
- The human condition encompasses the experiences and thoughts of all humans ignoring
race, class and gender.
- All humans seek happiness in their lives, we all want to live a life full of happiness and
without any sorrows. However, this is not possible. Struggle is inevitable in our lives and
reaching our goal of happiness is dependent on our decision making.
- We tend to make the wrong decisions and run away from our problems in an attempt to
be happy, but we fail to realize that this will not provide true happiness.
- I admit it, I have tried to be someone I’m not and mask myself in front of others to make
myself feel good. But this feeling is temporary.
- We need to learn that hiding our reality just because we are afraid people will judge us is
not going to give us true happiness. In fact, we can find true happiness within ourselves by
accepting our imperfections
Modern Culture:
- As humans, we allow outside factors such as culture to impact our lives.
- Culture in today’s society can negatively impact our decision making skills and can cause
us to become someone we are not by masking our struggles and problems.
- We try to fit in with our peers and in the social world by following the norm and trends in
today’s culture which may seem like is giving us happiness, but is actually hindering are
ability to find true happiness.
- Social media also plays a huge part in this as we compare ourselves to magazine models
and actors and thus try to become more like them which causes our personality to fade
and our true happiness to be lost.
Modern Society:
- Today’s society is blinding our ability to see reality instead, it makes us block out and avoid
our pain, suffering and imperfections that comes with our reality.
- This disallows us to fulfill one’s true potential leaving us vulnerable.
- Modern society is able to control the way we act and we blindly follow them thinking we
are happy, but fail to realize that in order to be truly happy, we need to be ourselves and
love ourselves for who we truly are and not who others want us to be
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Part1b:
Skull:
- Black on inside used to symbolize internal death and darkness
- Darkness shows how not only our true self is fading, becoming colourless, but also how our true
happiness is also fading
- Makeup symbolizes something fake, a mask to cover up what is underneath
- The bright colours, especially yellow, symbolizes the cowardice we all face because we are
scared of death
- Paradoxical how makeup is light, by the insides are dark
- Skull itself symbolizes memento mori – which is latin for death can come at any time, therfore we try
to stay happy
INSIDE SKULL:
- When we begin to realize we are beautiful just the way we are and do not need to conform to
today’s society and culture in order to feel happy, (PULL OUT LIGHTBULB), we will find light out of
the darkest situations and will start seeing light in the darkest of situations.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of artistic value, it is something that has meaning, something that looks good or how much it is worth. When i think about artistic value, i think about something that has meaning to me, something that i can relate to. I perceive something with artistic value as something that i can see myself in and after listening to my presentation, i hope you can as well. I decided to make something that had artistic value for me. (pull it out). The human condition encompasses the experiences and thoughts of all humans ignoring race, class and gender. All humans seek happiness in their lives, we all want to live a life full of happiness and without any sorrows. Struggle is inevitable in our lives and reaching our goal of happiness is dependent on our decision making.
