Referencing Class

Matt Groening and The Simpsons Phenomenon







Contents
Introduction
Life
The Simpsons
Futurama
Conclusion





Introduction

He spent his childhood watching the television. He did not like rules, grades and school. It looks like a perfect beginning of someone who has not accomplished much in his life. But Matt Groening has accomplished a lot and he did spend his childhood watching the television and he did not like rules, grades and school. In a short documentary (Arizonabay, 2008) Matt describes his childhood addiction to TV with this “My teachers and my guidance chancellors were saying you are wasting your life, you are not gonna go anywhere with that, that is not gonna get you anywhere, and, so I said I am gonna make use of all that time, it is not just a waste of time, it is research.” In the end, it turned out to be a great research if we take a look at The Simpsons, Groening’s creation, the longest running American sitcom of all time.







Life

Mathew Abram Groening was born in Portland, Oregon in 1954. His father, Homer Groening was a cartoonist and a filmmaker. Margaret Ruth is the name of Matt’s mother. Matt has four siblings, two of whom are older and two younger than him. Margaret and Lisa are his two younger sisters, while his brother Mark and sister Patty are the older ones. According to his own words (arizonabay, 2008) as a kid he spent a lot of time watching TV shows. He also openly says that the school was a downhill slide for him since the early beginnings. Matt didn’t like rules and grades and therefore he ended up at The Evergreen State College in Washington. There he met Linda Berry and Charles Burns, two people who had big influence on Matt. A big inspiration came from Charles Scholz and his Peanuts. After leaving school in 1977, Matt moved to Los Angeles. He had couple of jobs but overall he did not do very well there. Being depressed, angry and alone he started his Life in Hell cartoon. As the time went he developed several characters with Akbar, Jeff, Binky and Sheeba among them. He started doing comic strip for L.A. Reader and soon after many more newspapers wanted his cartoons.




The Simpsons

The Simpson family (simpsonovci, 2010) could be first seen in The Tracey Ullman show as a half-minute animated spot. It got popular and by 1989 The Simpsons became an independent 30-minute show. Since then (thesimpsons, 2010) 464 episodes have been aired in total of 21 complete seasons. Throughout the time The Simpsons manage to gain the position of the longest running entertainment television series in US. The Simpsons is the creation of Matt Groening. He (Rose, 2007) was contacted by the producer of The Tracey Ullman show James L. Brooks, who had previously seen one of his Life in Hell comic strip, in order to create a short animated cartoon for the show. He initially wanted to present his Life in Hell cartoons but shortly before the meeting with Brooks he changed his mind and quickly, in about 10 minutes, sketched characters of the Simpsons family.






For Matt, animated cartoon (arizonabay, 2008) Rocky and Bullwinkle was a proof that a great animation is not as essential as great music, voices and writing are. Matt focused on that and even though, the early animations of the Simpsons were really rough and imperfect, the show became popular.He named the characters of the Simpsons after his own family members. Marge after his mother Margaret, Homer after his father, Lisa and Meggie after his younger sisters. However, he named the boy Bart instead of naming him after himself. But the names are the only similarity between the cartoon and Matt’s real family.








The Simpson family lives in a fictional city, Springfield, which is located somewhere in the USA. The look and feel of the town is different in almost every episode. The location of buildings changes as well as the presence of buildings, which are necessary for specific episode. For example, if an ice hockey ring is needed, there would be one, even if it has never been shown or mentioned before. Plots of single episodes varies greatly. They deal with all the problems of a human existence. However, it looks to me that family relations and relations between people in general are the most used themes. Besides that, school, work, money and politics are important aspects in majority of episodes.






Futurama

It is another animated show created by Matt Groening. It started in 1999 but has lasted for just five seasons. However, four Futurama films were released on DVDs and they were later cut into separate episodes and aired on TV. In addition, all-new episodes are being created and they are expected to be aired in June 2010. The first episode introduces main characters and tells the background information. Fry is a delivery boy in New York who accidentally freezes himself in a cryogenic pod at the turn of the 20th century and he wakes up in year 2999. In New New York he meets several different characters with Leela, Bender and Professor Farnsworth being some of them. Futurama is oriented for adult audience and not for kids, even though it may look like that.








Conclusion

Matt Groening is a great example of a man who started at the very bottom and made his way up to the very top. Even during the most difficult times in his life, he never gave up. In addition, he made the best of harsh times because he started drawing his Life in Hell cartoon. Life in Hell started Matt’s initial success and led up to the creation of The Simpsons. It sounds unbelievable but it has been 20 years since the show began and it is still very popular all around the world. It is simply a phenomenon. The success of Matt’s second animated cartoon Futurama confirms the fact that he is one of the best in the movie industry. I really enjoyed writing this essay on Matt Groening due to the fact that I know quite a lot about the subject in comparison to the previous essays. I have known Simpsons for a very long time and I have never had enough of them. The thing I like the most about The Simpsons is that there are so many episodes that even if I thought I had seen all of them I could still find one I had not seen before. Futurama is great too and I cannot wait for the new episodes to come out.





Referencing

Websites:

Simpsonovci (2010) História [Online].
Available at: http://www.simpsonovci.com/historia
(Accessed 5 June 2010)

Thesimpsons (2010) Show Recaps [Online].
Available at: http://www.thesimpsons.com/recaps/season21/index.htm
(Accessed: 5 June 2010)


Videos:

Arizonabay (2008) My Wasted Life - Matt Groening part 1.
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX4L1DGtdKU
(Accessed: 5 June 2010)

Arizonabay (2008) My Wasted Life - Matt Groening part 2.
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbrLnoXdaLg&feature=related
(Accessed: 5 June 2010)

Charlie Rose (2007) A conversation about The Simpsons Movie
Available at: http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/8620
(Accessed: 5 June 2010)

Pictures:

1. Matt Groening [Online].
Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/12/12/Groening_narrowweb__300x413.jpg
(Accessed: 5 June 2010)

1b. Matt Groening as a cartoon haracter [Online].
Available at: http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/voracious/MattGroening.jpg
(Accessed: 5 June 2010)

2. Matt Groening (1991) Life in Hell [Online].
Available at: http://www.jennymiller.com/images/LifeInHell.jpg
(Accessed: 5 June 2010)

3. Matt Groening The Simpsons [Online].
Available at: http://simpsonovi.hxm.cz/obrazky/old2.png
(Accessed: 5 June 2010)

4. Matt Groening The Simpsons [Online].
Available at: http://npinopunintended.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/the-simpsons.jpg
(Accessed: 5 June 2010)

5. Springfield [Online].
Available at: http://www.bismarcktribune.com/app/blog/uploads/e/ExpatriateTwo/501.jpg
(Accessed: 5 June 2010)

6. Futurama [Online].
Available at:
http://d.mundo-descargas.com/descargas/futurama-fondo-de-escritorio/futurama-fondo-de-escritorio.jpg
(Accessed: 5 June 2010)











Paula Scher


fig. 1 (Paula Scher herself)



TABLE OF CONTENTS










     Paula Scher (fig. 1) a leading figure in the world of corporate design. She worked hard to make her way to top. Working for the recording companies and making ads and album cover designs (fig. 2) marks the beginning of a long way. Halfway may be represented by her, co-founding the Koppel & Scher company, Pentagram becoming her final destination. Two moments of her creative career are sticking from the rest. Detailed description of the story behind the Cover for AIGA is given and the unusual circumstances of the creation of Citi logo design discussed.

fig. 2 (Boston album cover design by Paula Scher)




Paula Scher was born in 1948 in Virginia. She attended Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington D.C.. She received bachelor degree from Fine Arts at the prior mentioned and a Doctor of Fine Arts Honoris Causa at the Corcoran College. In addition to that, as Paula says in her presentation (Scher, 2003, p.1) Mr. Stanalagorski, her ilustrator teacher at Tyler School of Art, changed her life by giving her several essential advices. She later (Scher, 2002, pp.9-14) worked for CBS records creating ads for albums which were to be released. She then worked for Atlantic Records as a designer for advertisements and covers.


fig. 3 (promotional book by Koppel & Scher)


However, a year later she got back to CBS records as an art director. She had much more work there than at the Atlantic which ment “the more you design the more you learn“ (Scher, 2002, p.14) To this point she has been working for someone else but (Pentagram, 2010) in 1984 Koppel & Scher (fig. 3) was founded. In 1991 she began her cooperation with Pentagram. Paula Scher has been awarded with many awards throughout her life but there some that need to be mentioned. In 2000 she was awarded Chrysler Design Award and in 2001 she got a Gold Medal from American Institute of Graphic Arts.






It is quite an interesting story how did Paula Scher get to making big-scale maps (fig. 7). According to her own words (nicolasheller, 2009) she was given the chance to create a cover (fig. 4) for the annual AIGA show called Graphic Design USA of 1989. Even though there was no design fee, she was told that expenses up to 1000 dollars would be covered. It also came up to that she can keep the money if she had no expenses. Paula openly says that “…my goal in doing the AIGA cover in 1989 was to make a cover where I had no expenses so I could keep the thousand dollars.”(nicolasheller, 2009) Driven by the fact that she has to do it on her own in order to keep the money, she started working on the cover. There are several interesting aspects and even some funny things concerning her creation.





fig. 4 (1989 Graphic Design USA show cover by Paula Scher)




An eye was painted on the front side of the cover with eyelashes being created by words that influence designers. All of these were surrounded by list, in alphabetical order, of states and the percentage of people who used Helvetica in that particular state. In fact, Scher used 1984’s presidential election results as the basis for her percentage of Helvetica users. As Scher admits herself in her presentation (2003, p.2) not to be very good at drawing she had to somehow draw something on the cover. She came up with an idea to draw the map of the USA without looking at the actual map. She ended up forgetting to draw Utah so she had to put it underneath the map. Still, Paula’s creation was a success and new options were opened to her. Even though, she did not initially continue to draw maps, she later got back to it creating enormous-size maps filled with hand-drawn type. It took her up to six months to create some of them.




fig. 5 (sketch of logo for Citi Paula made on a paper napkin)





In 1996 (Curtis, 2008) Paula sketched a new logo for Citigroup which was planning to merge with Travelers group. Actually, there would not be anything special about it; there were thousands of other logos created by thousands of other designers. But the point is that the actual sketch was done on a napkin (fig. 5) in a second after the first meeting. Paula commented on the quick creation of the logo “…how can it be that you talked to somebody and it is done in a second, but it is done in a second, it is done in a second in 34 years…” (Curtis, 2008). Paula combined major aspects from both logos, taking the umbrella and implementing it in the word Citi. It worked and that is the story behind the logo (fig. 6) which can be still seen all around the world.




fig. 6 (actual Citi logo) 







     Starting from a scratch, not being very good at drawing, working for a company at the lowest possible position with no authority, Paula Scher actually made it much further than anyone would ever imagine. She made the best from all the problems and negatives she encountered. Understanding the fact, that people learn best on their previous mistakes, helped her became one of the best known female designers in the world. The story about the cover for AIGA annual show is simply amazing. I really love Scher’s honest description of the situation, 1000 dollars making her create an original piece of artwork including type and illustrations, which she admits have never been really good at. The idea to show the usage of Helvetica by American population was great and fun. The map of US she drew for the back cover has its own charm, especially with Utah not being where it is suppose to be.




 fig. 7 (map of world drawn by Paula Scher)



Her skills and long-time experience can be clearly seen if you look at the creation of the Citi logo, she immediately realized the that lower t can be used as the handle for the umbrella and here it is, world-known, world-spread logo of a giant company was created on a napkin in a second. Overall, I think this is my best essay so far. Even though I had problems gathering enough information I managed to cover important moments of Paula’s life and work. I picked two moments of her professional life. I think that the creation of the cover for the AIGA show presents the point when Scher realized what she is really good at. And I picked the creation of the Citi logo to show what kind of story may be hidden behind a successful logo.




Reference List:

Books:

Scher, P. (2002) Make It Bigger. New York: Princeton Architectural Press
Scher, P. (2003) Edited transcript of Paula Scher's presentation [Online] 
Available at: http://www.designthinkers.com/pdf/paulascher.pdf
(Accessed: 24 May 2010)

Websites:

Pentagram (2010) Paula Scher [Online]
Available at: http://pentagram.com/en/partners/paula-scher.php
(Accessed: 24 May 2010)

Videos:

Curtis, D.H. (2008) Paula Scher.
Available at: http://www.hillmancurtis.com/index.php?/film/watch/paula_scher/
(Accessed: 24 May 2010)

Nicolasheller (2009) Paula Scher: The Geography of Design (Part 1).
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/user/nicolasheller#p/u/5/vXaExwPekgc
(Accessed: 24 May 2010)

Nicolasheller (2009) Paula Scher: The Geography of Design (Part 2).
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/user/nicolasheller#p/u/4/xQjvqG3Tp34
(Accessed: 24 May 2010)

Pictures:

1. Paula Scher [Online].
Available at: http://www.computerarts.co.uk/__data/assets/image/980986/cap111intpaula455.jpg
(Accessed: 24 May 2010)

2. Boston album's cover by Paula Scher [Online].
Available at:
http://www.ninjavspenguin.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/roger-huyssen-boston-album.jpg
(Accessed: 24 May 2010)

3. Koppel & Scher promotional book [Online].
Available at:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIlriWvLy5KtdMeLLt6CNSHodRzH3CgLUK1DnX0XWI33wQW99yBiWXUGUvvtrwNLjv_DV9PXAksI-eybo9hsb4MGHnZz5eJ_RrZX0S8KKTACUn9I57z5C-I2dt6NvT3qEMe5g3Aqb3bE/s1600-h/scher-gb-metamrph.jpg
(Accessed: 24 May 2010)

5. Scher's sketch of Citi logo on a Napkin [Online].
Available at: http://blog.pentagram.com/archives/Citi_Napkin_Sm.jpg
(Accessed: 24 May 2010)

6. Finished Citi logo [Online].
Available at:
http://media.counton2.com/wcbd/gfx.php?max_width=300&imgfile=images/uploads/CITIBANK_LOGO_web.jpg
(Accessed: 24 May 2010)

7. Map of the world drawn by Paula Scher [Online].
Available at: http://cartophilia.com/blog/uploaded_images/paulascherworld1998-703366.jpg
(Accessed: 24 May 2010)


















Readymade expert: Marcel Duchamp
Fig. 1 (Photograph of Marcel Duchamp later in life)


Table of Contents

-Introduction
-Life
-Nude Descending a Staricase, No. 2
-The Large Glass
-Fountain
-With Hidden Noise
-Conclusion





Introduction


     The fact of having two brothers artists and a sister artist must have formed a good feeling for Marcel Duchamp, an artist. But to what extent was Marcel Duchamp an artist? Were his paintings an art? Yes, they were. But what about the Readymades and the fountain, should that be considered an art? “Some deny that Fountain is art but believe it is significant for the history of art and aesthetics.” (Camfield, 1989, p.64) I think it depends on the origin, which is not definitely known. The Large Glass, Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 and the fountain all stirred calm waters of art of that time and left a message that can be express in so many different ways.




Fig. 2 (Marcel Duchamp, Jaques Villon and Raymond Duchamp-Villon)



     As Stafford (2008) mentioned in his article Marcel was Born in Blainville France in 1887. Surrounded and influenced by his grandfather’s work, his was not the only child (out of six surviving infancy) in the family who would become associated with art either as a painting, printmaker or sculptor. His two older brothers, later known as Jacques Villon and Raymond Duchamp-Villon engaged in this area before Marcel did, and they definitely had an influence on their younger brother. In addition to Marcel’s brothers and grandfather, Duchamp’s entire home and activities the family did in it’s free time had a significant influence on Marcel. Marcel’s younger sister later named Suzanne Duchamp-Crotti ended up being a painter as well. Thanks to their father’s position of notaire, who was quite an important and respected person at that time, the family did financially well.

According to Cabanne’s (1967, p.113) chronology Marcel drew his first known artwork in 1902. After finishing lycée in 1904 Marcel moved to Paris. There, reunited with his brothers, he started studying art at Academie Julian. However, Stafford (2008) noted that due to his “great” interest in billiards he was not in school very often. It was in Paris where Marcel got to know all the “isms”, that were present at the time.

Cabanne (1967, pp.113, 114) claim that, for some time after leaving the academy, Marcel worked in a print shop and after that he entered the military service. Around the time of his first exhibition, at the Salon des Independatns where he presented two of his works, Marcel became aware of Cubism thanks to the sessions his brother organized. Years 1910, 1911 and 1912 represent the most important time when talking about Duchamp’s canvas oil paintings. Most of his best known works were created in this time period.


Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2

     It is oil on canvas painting painted in 1912 by Marcel Duchamp. According to Artinthepicture (2010) it is kind of a motion-like painted representation of a woman outline taking the stairs. There is actually nothing “nude” about it. The painting was supposed to be exhibited in Paris but members of Salon Cubist insisted on Marcel to rename it. He did not. Instead he exhibited his work at the Armory Show in New York City.



Fig. 3 (Nude Descending a Staricase, No. 2)



The Large Glass

     In 1915 (Cabanne, 1967, p.115) instead of fighting in World War One, Marcel Duchamp managed to make his way to New York where he stayed until the end of the war. He befriended several people, who would become either his friends, sponsors or colleagues. Katherine Dreier, Man Ray , Louise and Walter Arensberg, Beatrice Wood and Francis Picabia being the most important of them. At this time he started working on his most recognized work the Large Glass. The other name for this work is The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even. Stafford’s (2008) lines contain information that he was working on this creation for eight years and it was still not finished. It consists of two big glasses and several fictional objects created by using different techniques and materials.




Fig. 4 (The Large Glass - The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even)



Fountain

     Duchamp’s Fountain (Camfield, 1989, p.64-68) is a revolutionary idea to some but on the other hand it is everything but art to others. Belonging to the group of readymades, group of art that was invented and introduced by Marcel Duchamp, Fountain is pretty much just a factory made urinal presented as an artwork. There were no modifications made to it, even though, there were also readymades Marcel modified or utilized by a custom-made parts. The way how fountain entered the world of art is rather ridiculous. Marcel, among tenths of other well-known figures and artist, being a member and a director of the American Society of Independent Artists, submitted the urinal, under the name of R. Mutt, to be on the show during the first exhibition organized by ASIA in 1917. This entry caused a sensation, deliberation and a great scandal. It was supposed to be decided whether the urinal should or should not be shown at the exhibition. At the end directors voted down the defenders of the piece. Marcel was touched, by this event of stopping his work from being shown, so hard that he eventually resigned from him position at the society. Up to this point, no public eye had ever laid eye on the actual fountain. All the public knew was that there had been a bathroom fixture submitted as an artwork by someone named R. Mutt. However in May 1917 a picture of the fountain could be seen in second issue of The Blind Man which was a Dada magazine published by Duchamp, Roche and Wood.





Fig. 5 (Fountain - a readymade art by Duchamp)




With Hidden Noise

     Is another from many Duchamp’s readymades. In comparison to other ones, this one consisted even of parts made specially for this project. Overall it is a ball of twine covered from two sides by copper plates screwed together with bolts. But the interesting thing about this piece is that there is something inside the ball of twine and it actually rattles when shaken. Even Duchamp himself had no idea what the thing was inside because it was Duchamp’s friend who had put it in. (Stafford, 2008)



Fig. 6 (With Hidden Noise)



Conclusion

     Marcel Duchamp was a man with two faces. Right now is hard to tell whether his humorous and playful side also covered the readymades, he had come up with, which many people had not recognized more than jokes. To me, most of his readymades are not representing any form of art. However, according to a research that have been done by art historian Rhonda Roland Shearer it looks like that the readymades that were supposed to be stock factory made products were actually made by Duchamp himself. Thatwould make a big difference. That would actually make him a presenter of his art as someone else’s possible product rather than someone else’s possible product as his art.

I think I did a much better job presenting artist’s works this time. I picked some of his works and briefly described them in connection with his life at that time. I included just the very basic events of his life. I should have done better job choosing appropriate transitions between specific works. It may look like there is no order but they are at least order by timeline. The major problem of mine remains the same and it is a bad time organization. I keep struggling to start in advance and have a chance to take a proper look, after some time, at what I have written. This is my number one priority to change this, start in advance, have a fresh look at the essay and make  reasonable corrections.


Reference List

Books:


Cabanne, P. (1967) Dialogues with Marcel Duchamp. Translated by Ron Padgett. Reprint, USA: Da Capo Press, 1987.

Camfield, W.M. (1989) Marcel Duchamp, Fountain. Houston: Menil Collection / Houston Fine Arts Press.




Websites:


Stafford, A. (2008) 'Making Sense of Marcel Duchamp', Understandingduchamp [Online]. Available at: http://www.understandingduchamp.com/
(Accessed: 17 May 2010)


Artinthepicture (2010) 'Marcel Duchamp', Artinthepicture [Online]. Available at: http://www.artinthepicture.com/artists/Marcel_Duchamp/Biography/
(Accessed: 17 May 2010)


Pictures:


1. Marcel Duchamp [Online].
Available at: http://www.dfs.unito.it/solid/RICERCATORI/curriculum_Vittone/aforismi/duchamp.jpg
(Accessed: 17 May 2010)

2. Marcel Duchamp, Jaques Villon and Raymond Duchamp-Villon [Online].
Available at: http://www.aaa.si.edu/images/poa1/AAA_poa1_0004r.jpg
(Accessed: 17 May 2010)

3. Nude Descending a Staricase, No. 2 [Online].
Available at: http://www.uncg.edu/rom/courses/dafein/civ/nude_no2.jpg
(Accessed: 17 May 2010)

4. The Large Glass [Online].
Available at: http://www.fondation-langlois.org/e-art/images/catherine-richards/marcel-duchamp-le-grand-verre.jpg
(Accessed: 17 May 2010)

5. Duchamp's Fountain [Online]
Available at: http://www.tcf.ua.edu/Classes/Jbutler/T340/DuchampFountain.jpg 
(Accessed: 17 May 2010)


6. With Hidden Noise [Online]
Available at: http://hiddennoise.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/hiddennoisecolor1.jpg
(Accessed: 17 May 2010)




















Otto Karl Wilhelm Neurath


fig.1 (Otto Neurath later in Life)




Table of Contents



Otto Karl Wilhelm Neurath

Introduction
Birth
Studies
Teacher
WWI
Red Vienna
Hague and WW2
Conclusion 



Introduction


     Otto Karl Wilhelm Neurath, a resstless man, who had so much on his mind but the difficult time of early 1900’s and two World Wars halted or negatively influenced his thoughts. One of the key figures of the Vienna Circle, a husband to three well educated women and a father to Pual Neurath. All these are definitions of a genius, who changed the World with his idea of Isotype. An easy to understand visual depiction of figures, numbers and statistics. Teacher, lecturer, army official and innovator. In fact, “He made innovations in so many fields that even his admirers lost count of his accomplishments.” (Cartwright et al.,1996, p.7) Years at the University in Vienna were essential for young Otto because he met two of his later wifes and numerous future co-workers and collegeaus. Army service having different type of impact on him but with the same importance.



 

fig.2 (Otto Neurath's Isotype Machte der Erde)





     

     Born on December 10th 1882 in Vienna, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Otto was the first son of Wilhelm Neurath and Gertrud Kaempfert. Young Otto was surrounded by his father’s books, which he often browsed and searched. However, that was just an indirect influence Wilhelm Neurath had on his son. Direct influence on Otto came from conversations he encountered with his father, who was a political economist. In 1901 Otto’s father died and the good times were gone. Otto had to take care of himself and could not count on help from his mother because she had enough problems on her own having to take care of her second son Wilhelm. After graduating from secondary school in 1902, Otto enrolled to University of Vienna. He soon realized that his choice of mathematics and physics, the choice he had probably done under the influence of his father, was wrong. Economy, history and philosophy seemed to be much better options.




fig.3 (Otto Neurath's Isotype Map of agriculture, natural resources and industry)



     During his studies Otto met several people who would later become members of the Vienna Circle, a group of philosophers that was cofounded by Otto Neurath. It is important to point out the name of Ferdinand Tonnies, whom Otto met during a summer academy and who suggested Otto to move to Berlin. Otto decided to continue his studies at the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat in Berlin. His life there was not easy and at one point his financial situation was so bad that he could not afford to buy food. Nevertheless, with help from his friends he managed to get over this harsh time. An essay on monetary interest in antiquity and editing of Marlow’s Faust signalized the start of Otto’s writing activities. After receiving doctorate from Friedrich-Wilhlems-Universitat in 1906 he moved back to his birthplace, where he joined the army. After undergoing several military trainings and exams he spent some time during two following summers at Vienna’s military rationing and provisions office.



     After this experience, teaching economics and history as an assistant teacher at the New Business School in Vienna became his permanent job until the war broke up. Otto Neurath was married three times. In 1907 he married Anna Schapire, a girl he had known for a long time. She and Otto, they were fellow students at both universities in Vienna and Berlin. Anna had interests in literature and she was publishing different genres. She later focused much more on social themes and women’s rights. While working on a students’ textbook, Otto together with Anna started working on a two-volume reader on economics, which was published in 1910. In 1911 Anna gave birth to Paul Neurath, Otto’s only child. Unfortunately, Anna died shortly after the birth and Otto and his son were separated. Olga Hahn, the sister of Hans Hahn, one of the founders of the Vienna Circle, was Otto’s second wife. He married her in 1912 and their marriage lasted until 1937 when she died. Even though Olga was blind since 1904 she finished her studies of mathematics and actively took part during the discussions at the Vienna Circle.





fig.4 (Otto Neurath's Isotype showing the spread of railway)





     Otto married her third wife, Marie, in Oxford, England. During the WWI Otto made the best out of what he had learned during his military service and university studies. His knowledge of economics and the fact that he had passed the exams for rations and provisions at the military school made him a perfect man to be appointed as the Head of the General War and Army Economics section of the War Ministry in Vienna. In addition he got in charge of the Museum of War Economy in Leipzig. During the German revolution, Otto joined the Social Democratic Party and sensed the chance to transform his ideas and thoughts into reality by creating and applying a plan for socialization. However, with the fall of the Soviet Bavarian Republic came the end to Otto’s plans. After returning to Vienna, Otto worked for numerous housing organizations and founded some of them himself. But none of that had as much importance and influence as the foundation of The Museum of Economy and Society.




fig.5 (Otto's Neurath Isotype)





     Isotype was Otto’s another thought of great importance. Museum hosted wide range of displays and exhibitions from health, sport, and economy to very specific like Mother & Child or prevention of tuberculosis. Otto and his exhibitions toured to several cities across the Europe and even got to USA and Russia. Further political changes in Austria, especially abolishing Social Democratic organizations prevented Otto from coming back to Vienna from his exhibitions in Moscow. He made his way do Hague in Holland. There he continued his work as a director of exhibitions, an author of books and the member of Vienna Circle. Three years after him came to Hague his second wife Olga died. With advancing Nazi armies Otto and his colleagues were forced to flee the Holland. He ended up in Britain, being interned for some time but released. He spent his final years at Oxford teaching and working on Isotype, he married co-worker from museum Marie Reidemeister. His sudden death in 1945 was unexpected.




fig.6 (Isotype map by Otto Neurath)






     Even thought, Otto lived during such an unstable and revolutionary time, he did the best he could to push his ideas through. Establishing several institutions with educational and social character was a great success. No ones exhibitions caught so much attention as the ones made by Otto and his team. They were original and simple to understand thanks to it’s use of Isotype. They were even invited by some countries to present their work there. It is sad that nowadays people do not know about Otto Neurath. Well, to say the truth, I had no idea that Otto Neurath ever existed but now I know how important his work is.

     I am fairly satisfied with what I have written but there are few aspects of my work that need to be improved. First of all, due to the bad time organization I rushed with my research and failed to cover some very important facts. Even if I partially coverd the fact there would not be enough details about it. This especially touches the Vienna Circle and Isotype on it’s own. I mentioned how successful were Otto’s exhibitons but they were such thanks to the use of Isotype. There could be an entire essay written about the Vienna Circle but I failed to write a single paragraph about it. I also realized that I had probably focused too much on artist’s life which is, in the end, not so important. Next time I am going improve all of above mentioned negative aspects of my work. Starting with better time organization, focusing more on artist’s work and influence except the life.


Reference List

Books:

Cartwright, N., Cat, J., Fleck, L., Uebel, T.E. (1996) Otto Neurath Philisophy between Science and Politics. New York: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge

Kraft, V. (1953) The Vienna Circle. Translated by Arthur Pap, New York: Philosophical Library Inc.

Websites:

Stroom Den Haag, After Neurath: Biography Otto Neurath [Online]. Available at: http://www.stroom.nl/paginas/pagina.php?pa_id=6422177
(Accessed: 10 May 2010)

Videos:

Stroomdenhaag (2008) Nader Vossoughian: After Neurath The Global Polis at Stroom.
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWEYcDNVU2w
(Accessed: 10 May 2010)



Pictures:

fig.1 Photograph of Otto Neurath [Online].
Available at: http://www.stroom.nl/gfx/uploads/FotoNeurath.jpg
(Accessed: 10 May 2010)

fig.2 Neurath, O. Isotype 03 [Online].
Available at: http://makingmaps.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/isotype03.png
(Accessed: 10 May 2010)

fig.3 Neurath, O. Isotype 01 [Online].
Available at: http://makingmaps.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/isotype01.png
(Accessed: 10 May 2010)

fig.4 Neurath, O. Isotype 16 [Online].
Available at: http://makingmaps.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/isotype16.png
(Accessed: 10 May 2010)

fig.5 Neurath, O. Isotype 15 [Online].
Available at: http://makingmaps.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/isotype15.png
(Accessed: 10 May 2010)

fig.6 Neurath, O. Isotype 06 [Online].
Available at: http://makingmaps.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/isotype06.png
(Accessed: 10 May 2010)








Antoni Gaudí's Life and Sagrada Família

fig.1 (Antoni Placid Gaudí i Cornet)




     Introduction


     He was supposed to die at an early age but he did not. If the tram had not hit him he would have lived longer than 75 years, which is already an amazing long life considering the time period. Thanks to his will-power as a boy he managed to battle his serious health condition and thus his already given destination. Gaudí graduated from University, met Guell and established himself as the best known Catalonian architecture of all time. He enthusiastically devoted 43 years of his life to the Sagrada Família which is still in construction. Closer to the end of his live he even moved to the cript of the unfinished cathedral so he could possibly spend more time working on his plans and models.




 fig.2 (Sagrada Familia)



top

     Antoni Gaudí was born on June 25th, 1852 and named after his mother Antonia Cornet. He was baptized the next day in the church of Sant Pere Apostol because his parents feared that he may not survive because of the problematic pregnancy and non easy birth. But the thing that made them worry so much was the fact that two of their now five children died in last three months. It is not clear where exactly was Antoni born. There are two places that are being referred to as Gaudi’s birthplace. However, it was not like that before Antoni Gaudí himself proposed a suspicion that he had been born at Francesc Gaudi’s, who was Antoni’s father, workshop in Riudoms. Other place that is referred to is Reus which is a present-day capital of Baix Camp comarca of Catalonia Spain.

Young Antoni was proud of his ancestry and heritage. Both lines of his parents’ families included long tradition craftsmen like miners, farmers and coppersmiths. Evidence exists that Gaudis’ were found in Scotland, France and Prussia.



     fig.3 (Sagrada Familia interior ceiling)

Surviving the birth was just the beginning for Antoni. He suffered from lung infection, which developed into rheumatoid arthritis. He could not walk without suffering from intense pain. As a result of this he had never really spent time with other boys. Surrounding nature with all the animals, plants and stones became not only a retreat place for him but also a source of inspiration for his work in the future. His doctor thought that the kid was not going to live long due to his numerous health problems. Antoni heard the doctor and decided to prove him wrong. Still he could not stop the illnesses from taking his health away. “Toda, his closest childhood friend, remembered Gaudi as old before his time…” (Hensbergen, 2001, p.5)

At first Antoni was attending preschool under the supervision of Francesc Berenguer. His studies at Col.legi de les Escoles Pies in Reus are not connected to any extraordinary results or grades but he did improve his knowledge. While being there his religiousness started to take part in his life. In addition, he supported the school newsletters with his drawings and took part in preparing the school theater shows. His health improved to such level that he could actually join the school fieldtrips and see new places.

fig.4 (Sagrada Familia Nativity facade)


Taking several preparatory courses was inevitable for Antoni in order to be accepted to Upper Technical School of Architecture in Barcelona, where he had moved in 1868. He had to pass classes at Provincial School of Architecture and College of Science. Even though he missed many classes at the first mentioned he made it up by spending a lot of time in the school library. Again, during his university studies he had never been an excellent student but he had been given excellent grade two times, both for projects connected directly with architecture. On the other side, very sad occasion happened when Antoni’s mother Antonia died. Antoni’s father and niece remained his only family.

Being influenced by artists like Ruskin, Violet-le-Duc and Morris on one side and by aspects like his faith, interest in gothic art, medieval books and love of nature on the other side, Gaudí was ready to start his amazing career of an architect.


                   fig.5 (Sagrada Familia Passion facade)                  fig.6 (Sagrada Familia Passion facade)


One man made a lot to help Gaudí establish himself as an innovative and successful architect. His name was Eusebi Guell and he was a rich industrialist from Barcelona. In 1878 Guell saw one of Gaudí’s designs at the Paris World Fair and wanted to meet the creator. Thus, the two men met and developed a life-long lasting friendship and at the same time Guell became Gaudí’s patron and sponsor.



fig.7 (Sagrada Familia Rosary door)


The Sagrada Família is Gaudí’s best known architectural work and even though he spent 43 years of his life working on this project he had seen just a part of the entire cathedral to be completed before he died on 10 June 1926 due to the injuries he suffered when a tram had run over him few day before. In fact, the completion of the Sagrada Família is planned for 2026 what would be Gaudí’s 100th death anniversary. It is very important to mention that Gaudí was not the first architect working on the cathedral. Francisco de Paula del Villar was in charge of the architectural planning prior to Gaudí but after the disagreement with Martorell, who was a member of the temple council, Villar quitted and Gaudí became the chief architect. After Gaudí’s death there were numerous architects working on the cathedral, however none of them could actually follow his plans because they were destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. Gaudí’s implementation of natural patterns to architectural design of the Sagrada Família is nicely described here “…the structure features twisting towers resembling seashells, pillars that look like palm trees, and arches that seem to drip like wet sand. These organic allusions are hardly an accident.” (Lunday, 2005, p.27) It is known that at one point Gaudí decided to live at construction site of the cathedral so he did not have to get there every morning.



fig.8 (Sagrada Familia satined glass window)


Conclusion
     Gaudí would love to see his masterpiece completed and I am sure that after that he would be the most satisfied and settled man in the world. He would not certainly fear the death. But it had never happened and no one knows what was Gaudi wondering about when he died. He might have been thinking about his unfinished work but I am pretty sure he was thinking about the people he loved so much but they all had left him in this world alone. While I was working on this essay I developed some strong feelings towards Antoni Gaudí and his own way of architecture. The Sagrada Família is just an amazing architectural jewel I would love to see one day.
 
Reference List


Books:

Hensbergen, G.V. (2001) Gaudí. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
Lunday E. (2005) ‘Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia’, Mental Floss, Nov-Dec, pp.26-27.
Ministry of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise (2008) Gaudí. Translated by Discobole, S.L. Barcelona: Imgesa
Cirlot J.E. (2006) Gaudí. Menorca: Triangle Postals, pp.414-415

Website:

Gaudí & Barcelona Club (2010) Antoni Gaudí [Online].
Available at: http://www.gaudiclub.com/ingles/i_vida/i_vida.asp
(Accessed: 2 May 2010)

Videos:


Danicoal (2007) SAGRADA FAMILIA.
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5EALCeAFgs
(Accessed: 2 May 2010)

Eaglefromsyria (2007) La Sagrada Familia.
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0VeT9S4K3g
(Accessed: 2 May 2010)


Pictures:

1.
Audouard, P. (1878) Antoni Placid Gaudí i Cornet [Online].
Available at:http://www.gaudiclub.com/ingles/i_vida/fotgaudi/2gaudi26.jpg
(Accessed: 2 May 2010).

2.
Heyl, S. and Griffin, J. (2004) Sagrada Familia [Online].
Available at: http://www.the-bear-den.com/travel/2004_08_Cruise/Barcelona/Sagrada_Familia_1.JPG
(Accessed: 2 May 2010).

3.
Heyl, S. and Griffin, J. (2004) Sagrada Familia interior ceiling (canopy) [Online].
Available at: http://www.the-bear-den.com/travel/2004_08_Cruise/Barcelona/Sagrada_Familia_interior_ceiling_(canopy).JPG
(Accessed: 2 May 2010).

4.
Heyl, S. and Griffin, J. (2004) Sagrada Familia Nativity facade [Online].
Available at: http://www.the-bear-den.com/travel/2004_08_Cruise/Barcelona/Sagrada_Familia_Nativity_facade_2.JPG
(Accessed: 2 May 2010)

5.
Heyl, S. and Griffin, J. (2004) Sagrada Familia Passion facade [Online].
Available at: http://www.the-bear-den.com/travel/2004_08_Cruise/Barcelona/Sagrada_Familia_Passion_facade_2.JPG
(Accessed: 2 May 2010

6.
Heyl, S. and Griffin, J. (2004) Sagrada Familia Passion facade [Online].
Available at: http://www.the-bear-den.com/travel/2004_08_Cruise/Barcelona/Sagrada_Familia_Passion_facade.JPG
(Accessed: 2 May 2010)

7.
Heyl, S. and Griffin, J. (2004) Sagrada Familia Rosary door [Online].
Available at: http://www.the-bear-den.com/travel/2004_08_Cruise/Barcelona/Sagrada_Familia_Rosary_door.JPG
(Accessed: 2 May 2010)

8.
Heyl, S. and Griffin, J. (2004) Sagrada Familia stained glass window [Online].
Available at: http://www.the-bear-den.com/travel/2004_08_Cruise/Barcelona/Sagrada_Familia_stained_glass_window_2.JPG
(Accessed: 2 May 2010)







William Morris - A Great Man of a Great Art

fig.1 (William Morris)




Contents



Introduction

     Is William Morris an important figure in the history of art and arts and crafts movement? Answer is simple and correct, yes. And what is more is that he was not only an artist but poet, businessman and socialist. As he grew up he quickly mastered reading, drawing and writing even though he had never been an excellent student. He fell in love with nature, which he explored, observed, studied and valued. After he left the college his career of a great man begun. Having Edward Burne – Jones as his closest friend and companion he started to explore the world of arts and crafts. His marriage to Miss Jane Burden, the idea of the Red house and the foundation of the company of artists and decorators were all comprised in a short period of time. Yet he could still find time to write his poets, romances and to translate foreign language literature. He found socialism to be the only option how to change the wrong direction society was taking, "I want to see workmen escape from their slavish position” (Mackail, 1889, p.137) to emphasize the importance of middle class people and manual manufacturing.

fig.2 (William Morris)


     Born on March 24th 1834, William Morris was the oldest son of William Morris and Emma Shelton. Since his early childhood he quickly developed relations to several things. According to Parry (1996, pp.33-34) he loved nature and after some time he got to know all birds, trees and flowers that could be found in the area of his childhood and school years. His interests also covered mediaeval ages. Reading was another thing he learned in his early years and as Mackail (1901, p.197) mentioned “never remembered a time when he could not read.“

     William attended several schools during his school years but he had never been seriously involved in school life or studies. In 1852 he enrolled to Exeter College, Oxford. As Mackail (1901, p.197) mentioned by the time he was entering the college his character was well developed and he had a significant amount of knowledge from many different fields. At Exeter William met Edward Burne – Jones. They became very close friends, who shared the same interest in a variety of subjects. Their relationship remained close until Morris’s death. Writing became William’s another interest with the same intensity as reading had. Cary (1902, pp.26-28) wrote that throughout the college studies William and other members of Brotherhood, which was an undergraduate circle of friends, visited France and during one such visit, under the influence of French Gothic, he realized that becoming an architect is what he wanted.


fig.3 (Morris self-portrait)


     Soon after, he (Mackail, 1901, pp.197-198) applied for a position of an apprentice to a well known and well established architect George Edmund Street. His stay there however didn’t last for a long time even though he developed a friendship with Philip Webb. Meanwhile Burne – Jones had left the college in order to become a painter and it didn’t take long and William became the painter as well. In 1957 they started working as painters in a studio he had taken. On the other side William had never stopped writing and he published his prose tales and poems in Oxford and Cambridge Magazine for which he paid. In the same year he produced several poems and most of them were published in 1968 under the title The Defence of Guenevere and other Poems.

     William’s work consisted of variety of painting methods and techniques but he was not solely a painter. Drawing, illuminating, modelling and designing were some other arts he had been working on. Mackail (1901, p.198) claims that Morris was a member of the group of artists who decorated the walls and roof of the debating hall of the Oxford Union Society. There he met Miss Jane Burden whom he married in 1859.

     Creation of the ‘Red House’ (Mackail, 1901, p.198) and establishment of his firm consumed most of his time for several years after the marriage. These two activities were heavily connected because both William’s envisioned house and firm, he was planning to establish, required skilled decorators and artists. In 1861 Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, & Co. was established and after the Exhibition in 1862 company got into people’s awareness. Specialization of the company was extremely wide because it made everything from painted windows and mural decoration through jewellery up to knotted carpets and tapestries. Severe illness in 1964 made William move from his house in Kent to London.



fig.4 (Red House)



In his book Mackail (1901, p.199) wrote that in London William resumed his writing interests and after two years he published his ‘The Life and Death of Jason’. ‘Earthly Paradise’ was published in three volumes during the following three years. These publications helped him earn reputation of a successful modern poet.

     One of Morris’s later writing inspiration came from northern epics. Iceland was country which he personally explored and effects of this voyage could be seen in several of his books. In addition he started translating northern sagas into English with the help of his Icelandic tutor E. Magnusson.

     At one point Morris realized that he was not going to change or influence English society by reviving old arts and crafts techniques or by his literature as much as by entering politics and public affairs. He joined the Democratic Federation which broke up after some time and then he became one of the leaders of the Socialist league. His great involvement in this matter could be seen throughout his financial support, speaking, writing and organizing. However, no major success, anarchists overtaking the league “…finding himself reduced to being the prisoner of an anarchist tail” (Thompson, 1988, p.427) and the loss of confidence in political solution led Morris to withdraw from the union. Nevertheless he had never stopped defending the teachings and thoughts of socialism by writings and speakings.


fig.5 (Tupil and Willow)
    


 Conclusion

     Being a multi-field oriented man, Morris attempted to recreate as many arts and crafts techniques as he could actually think of in order to keep stressing the importance of hand made products. The thing that might be surprising is that he was able to made profit out of these, sometimes even forgotten, methods. His company became prosperous and well established. To some extent he had done the same thing in literature with various results. He did gain recognition as an author. Later realizing the absurdity of his thoughts that he might change the devastating direction society had taken by resuming and presenting old arts and crafts techniques that had been solely based upon skilled, creative artists, artisans and craftsmen instead of low quality output machinery. As a result of this fact he joined the Democratic Federation, later Socialist league and devoted big amount of time, money and hard work to it. It si also important to mention how often did Morris change his primary interest.


Reference list:

Books:

Mackail, J.W. (1899) The Life of William Morris, (2 vols.)
Mackail, J.W. (1901) ‘William Morris’, The Dictionary of National Biography, supp. vol.3, London: Smith, Elder and Co.
Cary, E.L. (1902) William Morris: poet, craftsman, socialist. New York: The Knickerbocker Press
Thompson, E.P. (1988) William Morris: Romantic To Revolutionary. California: Stanford University Press
Parry, L. (1996) William Morris. London: Philip Wilson Publishers Limited


Websites:
Morrissociety (2010) The William Morris Society [Online].
Available at: http://www.morrissociety.org/
(Accessed: 29 April 2010)


Videos:

Diomedes1962 (2008) William Morris Gallery.
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOXTdTvY9Fs&feature=related
(Accessed: 29 April 2010)

SupremeMasterTV (2009) William Morris: British Avant-Garde Designer.
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3kLR4N10Qg&feature=related
(Accessed: 29 April 2010)


Pictures:

1. William Morris (no date) [Online].
Available at: http://www.florin.ms/williammorris.jpg
(Accessed: 29 April 2010)


2. Watts, C.M. (no date) William Morris. The Mansell Collection [Online].
Available at: http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/96/37696-004-68608FAF.jpg
(Accessed: 29 April 2010)

3. Morris, W. (1856) Self-portrait. [Online].
Availabole at: http://www.vandaprints.com/lowres/39/main/7/343181.jpg
(Accessed: 29 April 2010)

4. Red House (no date) [Online].
Available at:http://www.owlpen.com/img/william_morris/red_house_well.jpg
(Accessed: 29 April 2010)

5. Morris, W. (1873) Tupil and Willow [Online].
Available at: http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/graphic_designers/william_morris/Tulip_and_Willow.jpg
(Accessed: 29 April 2010)



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