Art and the Homeless

... search comments by the philosopher Immanuel Kant to the effect that order is not inherent in nature but a projection of the mind upon nature of order Kant on Order in Nature Immanuel Kant argued that order is not implicit in nature but is a projection of the mind upon nature. He stated, "we ourselves bring into the appearances that order and regularity that we call nature, and moreover we would not be able to find it there if we, or the nature of our mind, had not originally put it there". Kant further explained that the understanding is not merely a faculty for making rules through the comparison of the appearances: it is itself the legislation for nature, i.e., without understanding there would not be any nature at all. He also noted that "we can represent nothing as combined in the object without having previously combined it ourselves". These statements highlight Kant's view that the mind plays an active role in imposing order on the world, rather than m...

When did you first feel the urge to paint bums on sidewalks?  The seed of the idea was planted at one of the moonlight jobs I did in the past. It was an art gallery catering to tourists at South Street Seaport, in New York. It didn't pay much, but it was good experience, and I enjoyed talking to the customers. Mixed-in with the bland works-of-art sold in the store was one item which obviously did not fit. In a selection of assorted prints and drawings depicting popular sightseeing places in New York City, was a charcoal sketch of a vagrant picking through a garbage can. I thought it didn't belong in the gallery at all, much less with scenes of New York City. It was an item which, I assumed, no one would even touch. It came as a shock when, on a day I was at work, it was bought by a couple from England visiting New York! They thought it was a great "find." I thought to myself this is what a true connoisseur looks like. I took it for an omen that I had been arrogant whe...

Charles Addams was born in 1912, a notable year for creative genius that also saw the arrivals of Jackson Pollock and Woody Guthrie, both of whom have been previously discussed. While these artists may have had little in common, they were undeniably part of an emerging, vibrant American cultural landscape. Charles Addams' distinctive cartoons, characterized by his uniquely sardonic and fatalistic shading, were a staple of publications such as The New Yorker, Collier's, and TV Guide. His work first appeared in The New Yorker Magazine in 1932, and by 1935, his signature style of macabre humor had begun to take shape. Addams believed that a cartoon's effectiveness depended on its ability to convey meaning without the need for words. A prime example of which is that haunting vignette of gangsters exchanging gunfire with the police -or a rival gang, their Thompson submachine guns blazing from an upstairs window, as the housekeeper nonchalantly sweeps the spent shell casings into...

Which of Plato's dialogs is concerned with numbers and mysticism? The Platonic dialogue concerned with numbers and mysticism, referred-to as "Plato's number," is enigmatically mentioned by Plato in his dialogue the Republic. The passage is notoriously difficult to understand, and there is no real agreement about the meaning or the value of the number. It has also been called the "geometrical number" or the "nuptial number" (the "number of the bride"). In Plato's Republic, specifically at section 546b, a cryptic reference to a "perfect number" appears in the context of discussing the ideal timing for divine and mortal procreation. The passage suggests that there is a mathematical harmony or cycle governing such events, described in terms of "augmentations dominating and dominated" that reach a state of balance through "three distances and four limits" of assimilation and dissimilation, waxing and waning.  ...

Search the scene from “Doctor Strangelove” in which George C. Scott says, "Herkliebe -that's a German name, isn't it?" Doctor Strangelove War Room Scene The scene from “Dr. Strangelove” in which George C. Scott's character, General Buck Turgidson, refers to Dr. Strangelove's name as "Herkliebe" (a play on "Merkwürdige Liebe," which means "Strange Love" in German) is a notable moment in the film. In the movie, Turgidson questions the origin of Dr. Strangelove's name, saying, "What kind of a Kraut name is Strangelove?" to which the Presidential advisor responds, "He changed it when he became a citizen, it used to be Merkwürdige Liebe". This exchange highlights the film's satirical take on the Cold War and the presence of former Nazi scientists in the U.S. military-industrial complex. While the exact video clip of this scene is not described in the provided context, it is a well-known moment in the film, a...

When the Ayatollah issued his Fatwa against Salman Rushdie following the publication of "The Satanic Verses," I couldn't help thinking that it was a publicity stunt. It may be seen as cynical, but I believed the move would have had greater impact on public opinion if the book had been published prior to the Iranian Revolution, or at a later time when it could be viewed as historical fact. Instead, it seemed to me like a calculated attempt by Rushdie to capitalize on a volatile and diplomatically-charged situation for his own personal gain. The Ayatollah, with his reputation for being sensitive and self-aggrandizing, presented an easy target for a provocative statement. It seemed that Rushdie couldn't resist seizing the opportunity. I might be less skeptical if Rushdie were to undergo a polygraph test regarding the ulterior motive I've attributed to him. Did "The Satanic Verses" serve as a personal, targeted assault on the Ayatollah? What specific actions...

... search for publications titled “a friend of the family” A Friend of the Family (miniseries): This is a true story-based miniseries that portrays the harrowing experiences of the Broberg family, specifically focusing on Jan Broberg, who was kidnapped multiple times in the 1970s by Robert Berchtold, a charismatic family "friend." The series delves into the manipulation and psychological damage inflicted by Berchtold, and it highlights the family's struggle and eventual resilience. The story is based on the memoir "Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story" (2003) by Jan and her mother Mary Ann Broberg, and it expands on the events detailed in the 2017 documentary "Abducted in Plain Sight". ... I am developing an article and considering the title "A Friend in the Family" will it infringe the title "A friend of the Family" A Friend of the Family (novel): This is a literary work authored by Lauren Grodstein. It's a story that delve...

Woody Guthrie missed his calling as an artist. In his book “Bound for Glory,” Woody muses on his love for drawing, color, and imagery. He didn't take the route in life of an artist -even if he could have. He had talent. As he writes in his story, it was just one of the roads he could have taken (but didn't.) The many drawings made by Guthrie illustrating his book “Bound for Glory” are proof of his natural talent for art. Lacking only the vital encouragement to get the training needed for an art career, he might have been a historic artist. Woody Guthrie was born in 1912. The year 1912 was, incidentally, the same year Jackson Pollock was born. A coincidence, perhaps; but consider the many similarities between the two rugged, individualistic, and above all independent loners. The main difference was early support and encouragement. In a word: A good home. If anyone had given Woody so much as a box of crayons, when a child, he might have become a famous Abstract Expressionist. Con...

The pivotal place of Édouard Manet's 1863 painting, "Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe" is a cornerstone of modern art, particularly in any academic History of Modern Art course. The painting's notorious scandal, which sparked both outrage and fascination, has captivated audiences and sparked the public's engagement in the emerging, new art of the 19th century. By examining the controversy surrounding "Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe," we gain insight into the transformative forces that defined Modern Art. The intersection of traditional representation and innovative techniques in Manet's pathfinding work still serves as a paradigmatic example of the seismic shifts that would come to characterize the movement. At the heart of Édouard Manet's painting "Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe" lies a provocative figure, seated prominently in the foreground, whose unflinching gaze directly engages the viewer. This bold and unconventional depiction of a female s...