Video Reviews

Buddhism

The key concepts/ideas of Buddhism began in India.  It then spread to other areas where it prospered.  The legends and facts of Buddhism are twisted together in Bodh Gaya, India.  One of the main teachings of Buddhism is “Tanha.”  “Tanha” preaches to get rid of all desires that may halt enlightenment.  When Budha died Buddhism split into two groups within the first hundred years of his death.  The two groups became Hinayana and Mahanayana.  The architecture of the Buddhism age spread around India.  The core of Buddhism art and architecture is Sanchi.  The Bodhi tree represents Buddha.  There is a walkway that surrounds the Great Stupa.  When walking through each step brings you to a new discovery of art and architecture of Buddhism.  The biggest Shrine to Buddhism is located in Java where a lotus-shaped Borabudur stands.  There are 432 curved Buddhas at the top of the shrine.  The Chuang Yen Monastery is located in Carmel, NY.  It is buildings.  There are statues within the building that reflect the style of the Tang Dynasty.

I chose to watch this video because I have always had a curiosity for Buddhism.  I was always interested in their beliefs and wanted to watch more on it.

 

African Art: Legacy of Oppression

 The key concepts/ideas of the video are the most African art is held at Belgium’s Tervuren museum in Central Africa.  The body positions and expressions in African art led to abstract art.  The masters of the 20^th century were influenced by African art.  African masks were made to frighten enemies, they were contorted features.  African art was then brought to Belgian by the people.  Leopold’s army brutalized the Africans and he then put them on display at his Tervuren museum.  He wiped out half of the Congo’s population while on his conquest for slave labor.  The western culture was influenced by Africa’s exotic curiosities.  African art explores the very nature of existence.

I chose this video because I have always liked African artwork and I thought it would be interesting to learn more about a topic I was interested in that’s why I picked this video.

 

The videos relate to the text because the text talked about these topics.  The videos provided a visual to the reading.  I always find seeing to be more beneficial than reading because I am a visual learner.

I actually really enjoyed the films because I found the topics to be interesting.  I like learning about different religions and their relation to art.  I also find African art to be interesting so it helped me to better understand the background of their art work.  The videos help me when I am having trouble picturing what is being talked about in the book.  Therefore I learned a lot from watching these videos.