Exhibit:

Gallery: Perception and aesthetics

Preview of images

Marylin Monroe by Andy Warhol
Julara Fish Sculptures by Simon and Adrienne McVerry

A gallery of images for HONS3260: Oscar Wilde and the art of perception

Choose an image that represents an important aspect of your research topic. Give enough detail so that an audience that might not share your knowledge base would understand what it is and how it is significant. Also be sure to explain how it relates to questions of perception or aesthetics.

Images in this Exhibit

The human retina by Santiago Ramon Y Cajal

The image attached is one illustration from many from Santiago Ramon Y Cajal’s Die Retina der Wirbelthiere: Untersuchungen mit der Golgi-cajal' schen Chromsilbermethode und der ehrlich' schen Methylenblaufärbung." originally published in German. In this text he dives into his work on the visual system, particularly focusing on the neural connectivity of the retina. Upon a series of staining of the retina Ramon Y Cajal is was able to construct the illustration. This is the first published illustration of the visual system's complex circuitry. It is compelling because it holds...
Marylin Monroe by Andy Warhol
Marylin Monroe by Andy Warhol

This painting is called “Marylin Monroe” by Andy Warhol released in 1962. Although the year this was painted was the same year of her death, it was essentially a commemoration to her and her influence.  It relates to both the question of perception and aesthetics first by being of someone like Marylin Monroe who has been a symbol of beauty and confidence since she first rose to fame in the early 1950s. It also tackles aesthetics simply through the painting style of “pop art” by silkscreen printing. Warhol’s style selected specifically for her portrait was due to him viewing people as “...
Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange

This image is called "Migrant Mother" by Dorothea Lange. This photo is one of many in a series and is one of the best examples of modern photojournalism. It was taken in March of 1936 in Nipomo California during the great depression. Aside from what the Image makes us feel, the Story behind the image is about a mother of 7 that was living in a tent on a camp for Migrant farmworkers. This image was not only a powerful tool to show the world the conditions in America but for journalists today, it shows the real power of Photojournalism. With the arms of her kids wrapped around her, we see a...
Ensō circle

Fukinsei means asymmetry or irregularity. The values of this principle pointed toward being truer to the natural world, which is unsymmetrical and imperfect. The relevant goal of Fukinsei principle is to highlight “isness” or “suchness” in reality, by accepting one’s nature that inevitably comprised imperfections and irregularities for the ease of mindful living and mental health. The symbol of this principle is ensō (Zen circle) or an incomplete circle in brush painting. When we think of a circle, it is the most symmetrical shape along with the satisfaction of perfection. The incomplete...
Merton Abbey William Morris

William Morris block printed wallpaper and fabrics at Merton Abbey 
Brunelleschi and the re-discovery of Linear Perspective

In the year 1415, the artist Filippo Brunelleschi discovered, or more honestly, re-discovered a method of architecture that would revolutionize art forever. Linear Perspective allowed art to have depth and appear to be in 3D, allowing portraits and paintings to seem more realistic, a key factor that defined the Renaissance Era. This invention coincidentally gained prominence at the same time as another cultural movement, humanism. Humanism embraces human achievements in education, classical arts, literature, and science. Both of these characteristics of the Renaissance Era would combine...
Chinese Red Guard

This photograph is of  Chinese Red Guards in Tiannamen Square. This picture perfectly exemplifies the aesthetics of collective conformity of the Cultural Revolution and the Red Guard, most notably the clothing choice and the little red book that they are clutching with their right hands. Uniformity in terms of clothing was something that was advocated in order to maintain the proletariat focus that Maoism presented and the Red Guard enforced. Having any sort of flashy clothes that were substantially different from the clothes everyone else wore was cause to be beaten, interrogated, jailed...
Julara Fish Sculptures by Simon and Adrienne McVerry
Julara Fish Sculptures by Simon and Adrienne McVerry

This image is the sculture of the Julara Fish sculptures by Simon and Adrienne McVerry in Noosa, Australia during the Floating Land  event. The photo is by Raoul Slater. The Floating Land event was organized by Biosphere Reserve which is an organization that is dedicated to environmental education through art. The event was made to understand the effectiveness in environmental art in their research study. Workshop Participants in this event learned the importance of the julara fish in the lake ecosystem, the use of natural materials in art rather than commercial materials...
German Postcard by Anonymous

This image depicts a German postcard illustrated by an anonymous artist. This postcard circulated in Germany starting in 1888 and is the original form of an optical illusion titled "My Wife and My Mother in Law" by William Ely Hill that was published in the American humor magazine Puck on November 6, 1915. The picture includes the image of a young woman turned away from the foreground of the portrait or view of the observer. However, based on the observer's perspective, the picture contains an image of an older woman turned facing forward. This image is perceived in different ways...
State Opening of Parliament

This image shows the House of Lords Chamber during the State Opening of Parliament, wherein the monarch gives a speech from the throne at the front of the room. The entire House of Lords and House of Commons are invited along with Her Majesty's judges and foreign diplomats. This image very well depicts the details and artwork in the Lords Chamber as well as the ceremonial robes that the peers (members of the House of Lords) and other attendees wear. Though not shown in the photo, all members of Parliament (here, I am referring to the House of Commons) are invited, but they must stay behind...
Sailor Moon Official VIZ Media

This is from the Official English Website for Sailor Moon. It is a banner of all the Sailor Scouts on it and is a fantastic representation of what the Sailor Moon '90s Aesthetic looks and feels like. The girl with blonde hair with twin space buns with red jewels in her hair is the protagonist, Usagi or better known as Sailor Moon. She is the most iconic Sailor Scout of all the other girls around her who represent other celestial bodies (such as Sailor Neptune, Sailor Mars, etc.) 
The Burial at Ornans

Courbet brings rural life experience into the capital of France, the most elite environment for arts. In effect, Courbet heroizes the common humanity. It was seen as exalting the commoner to make them seem noble.  At the center of the painting are both the grave and the gravedigger. Courbet gives the simple labor(gravedigger) an unexpected recognition and dignity in this painting.

The painting is divided into three groups: the clergymen(left), town officials (center), and mourning women(right). Courbet treated each of these different types of figures equally. The equal treatment of...
The New York Police Department

This image is of some of the first uniforms of the New York Police Department. The uniforms were formal and authoritative-looking, and they have a lot of similarities with the police uniforms we see today. The uniforms had badges for identification, caps, were button up, and they were dark blue. This use of the color blue stems largely from the influence of the London Metropolitan Police Department which also used blue uniforms, and the color of the uniforms was also influenced by the color of the military uniforms of the time which were blue.  The uniforms were immaculate as well. The...