Ava’s Blog

Mamma Mia! is one of my favorite movies and musicals. The songs, dances, and of course Meryl Streep are what make it the trifecta of everything I love. I’ve always been a big fan of cheesy movie musicals, because sometimes lighthearted entertainment is just so much better than watching things that make me think about the deep secrets of life. It’s fun to just be able to watch a movie or a show and feel so happy. Recently, I was inspired by my love for the movie to audition for the production at school, and shockingly, I got a role. Seeing how things come together behind the scenes and being a witness of the hard work that comes from everyone involved to create a big show with so many moving pieces has been a really cool experience, and has taught me a lot about theater, and the dedication that so many people have to the art form. I have always been a big theater supporter, and I really love live performances of anything, but I never thought I had a place in it. But I’ve definitely gained a deeper appreciation for theater, and I think it’s cool that I was inspired by how much I loved the movie to try something new and gain a new experience that has been super fun and rewarding. Theater and creating movies are so different, yet so special in their own ways. Movies are a really accessible art form, but the rush from seeing, or being a part of a live performance is so special. And the goals of both are to touch an audience and evoke some type of emotion, making them super important and entertaining in their own rights. 

I have to admit I do love movies, especially this one. However, today movies are hard to associate with the category of art. Nowadays movies are treated as pure business. It doesn’t matter if the acting is amazing or the set is fantastic, it’s all based on what would bring in revenue. This I think defeats the purpose of art. Movies aren’t creative, or unique anymore. They are society based and safe. Now, going back to Hollywood blockbusters I can understand. These films were created with so much creativity.

Now I think this is a special type of art, haunted houses. I personally have always loved the thrill of a good haunted house. I think it takes a special mind to develop all that comes out of a haunted house. The combination of design, layout, makeup, sculpting, and acting are all put together to exude fear out of the customers. It’s hard to create a good haunted house, and to create such suspense all through imagination. It’s almost like script writing, creating a story and using actors to tell it. Haunted houses aren’t for everyone, it takes a special strength to enjoy these works of art. Another neat thing that comes from these houses is the history. Behind almost every attraction there is a unique story. A story that sends chills down your spine.

Clothing and fashion has become a recent obsession of mine. Although I tend to wear the same two things to school every week, I love experimenting with different clothes and styles whenever I have somewhere fun to go. For me, when I’m wearing an outfit I feel comfortable in and or one that I think represents me and my personal style, I automatically feel so much more confident. I think the power of clothing is underestimated. This picture is iconic for many reasons, one being Naomi Campbell’s shoes, and two being that it’s obviously from the 90′s. It’s super weird and cool that a lot of fashion trends from the 80′s and 90′s are coming back now. Sometimes my mom will say to me, “I used to wear outfits exactly like that when I was your age,” proving that fashion trends come and go, and they can really have the power to build connections between generations. It’s awesome that we can take inspiration from decades that truly defined fashion, and put our own little 2019 twist on it. Overall, I think what I love the most about fashion and why I think it can be artistic is that it is so unique. Although it can feel like we sometimes have to follow certain trends to fit in or be accepted in society, I think that creating cool outfits and experimenting with new things can be so liberating and can feel so individualistic. No two people can wear an outfit the same, and it’s really cool that clothes and fashion can highlight our differences and push us to embrace them. 

I do have to agree with you, fashion is one of my favorite art forms. The idea of showcasing your personality through an outfit is so fun! I do however would give more credit to designers themselves. Sure it’s somewhat artistic to pair together two articles of clothing, but I believe the real art comes from the scraps of fabric and an idea. Behind every piece of clothing is a team of fashion designers. They cut and sewed in order to make the perfect blouse or skirt. When you buy this skirt, you are just buying someone else’s work. The hard work and thinking is all rooted in the designer.

I think people assume photography is easy and that anyone can simply take a picture of a pretty view, but seeing photos of such beautiful places is so inspiring to me, and I think being able to capture something so vividly is such an incredible talent. My biggest goal in life is to be able to travel the word one day. One place I really want to go is Alberta, Canada because of all of the beautiful nature and scenery, and I’ve also been seeing a lot of really cool pictures of it that make me want to go there more. Recently, I went on an unfollowing spree on Instagram of the people and things that I knew weren’t benefiting me or I knew were hurting my confidence, and instead, I started following some traveling accounts that share pictures of cool places. It’s easy to forget how over saturated our minds become everyday with pictures on social media, and it’s so easy to be consumed by an expectation portrayed by strangers online. So I think appreciating art forms that are able to inspire me to live out my goals instead of creating a false sense of reality are important, because they are few and far between. And you can’t get any more real than a picture of a really cool place. Adding some inspiration to your everyday life is easier than we think, and it’s cool to me that it can come from something so accessible in today’s day and age.  

I am also a photography lover. I think certain images can be breathtaking. Although lots of photography takes talent, I also believe sometimes you have to be in the right place at the right time. It’s amazing how quickly a scene can emerge from nothing. And some people can’t see this, and that’s why I think photography is so amazing.

Like every other person alive today, The Office is one of my favorite shows ever. Maybe that sounds basic, but I have my reasons! I have seen every episode and have watched most of them more than once, which seems on the lower scale of obsession compared to most other fans of the show, which at this point seems like everyone. I think it’s so cool that something like a T.V. show has the power to unite so many people, and it’s crazy to think that the show will have multiple followings between generations. My parents watched the episodes as they came out weekly, I watched it as a teenager on Netflix, and maybe my kids will too. I obviously love the humor and the jokes in The Office, and I love how my mood can automatically be brightened by the stupid sense of humor showcased in the series. I have such a respect for people who are creative and smart enough to turn an idea that seems so ordinary, and people that could seem so normal into something so massively entertaining. Sometimes when watching the show, I will literally sit there and laugh at how ridiculous a situation is, or how insane something is that a character (usually Dwight) says. People use T.V. as a way to escape their own realities and to make their own day to day life a little bit better, so to me it’s interesting that an idea so everyday and normal as the goings on in an office building were able to command such a massive following and be turned into something so opposite of normal. The show has become a classic, and I love how it’s something that the general population can relate to on some level. The magnitude of it shows us that art doesn’t need to be some elaborate and out of reach idea. It isn’t always a fancy painting in a museum, it doesn’t have to be so formal. Art can be as simple as your favorite T.V. show, as long as it’s able to create some type of impact on your life.  

I definitely agree with you, that TV Can be an entertaining way to express emotion. However, I do believe TV Is on a very different spectrum from most art. It’s head to generalize TV as an art form because it is so varied. Shows mean pull out happiness sadness and laughter out of someone all in a 30 minute period. One of the greatest things about TV is it’s ability to develop characters on a deep level, something usually film can’t touch on. Not only do the actors express emotion

Some art, comes together almost instantly while some pieces may take months, even years to form. I have always admired this piece of art. The reason it’s so appealing is because of its backstory. Michelangelo, a famous Italian painter, spent four years on this masterpiece. In order to paint the cealing he spent hours laying on his back on top of a scaffold. The painting is centered around seven scenes of the Old Testament, it tells a story. He took something ordinary, and created something people everywhere want to come visit. I think painted ceilings are such an underrated art form. It’s the most breathtaking feeling to walk into a room with art surrounding you. It’s tedious work and isn’t very common. However, when it’s done well, it is gorgeous. To this day, the Sistine chapel is one of the most valued pieces of art worldwide, and I can see why. It uses such intricate detail and expresses a story.

One art form that I’ve always loved is Murano glass making. This method of glass-making results in unique creations with rich coloring and beautiful, sometimes surreal, patterns and shapes. Anyone traveling to Venice will be instructed to go to Murano factories, and get Murano glass souvenirs. They fill up the store fronts, and vendor carts on the canals. These art pieces may just look like normal vases or glass sculpture to some, however, there is a ton of history behind Murano and it’s up bringing. Not only is the end result art, but so it the making process. It takes true artist to hear and shape the glass in a way that makes gorgeous patterns and figures. This art form dated all the way back to the 8th century. Murano’s glass industry grew steadily through the middle of the fifteenth century. During this time its production of blown glass was remarkable, and it established Murano as the leader in the international market. Since then, Murano has made a name for itself and is known world wide. Murano glass can also meet the needs of any individual. It’s sold as jewelry, bowls, vases, figures, and much more.

One art that I have expressed lots of interest into is cooking. Unlike other art forms, cooking engages all of your senses. Finding the right balance between ingredients to perfect the taste is essential. The presentation of a dish can be very pleasing to the eye. Finally, the aroma and texture is just as important as all of the other factors. Food is something that makes me so happy every day, and when someone’s takes this and perfects the art form, I am ecstatic. This is a style that every individual can relate to on a personal level. There is nothing else as good as a well cooked meal.

Last year, as a part of theater, I studied Commedia Dell Arte. This is a type of art style that is not very common today. It has layers and layers of timeless history, making it the stylistic piece of theater it is today. Not only is the acting style one of a kind, but they use characterized masks to disblay facial expresssions. In order to get emotion across, the actor would have to use their body, because most of their face is covered. It is a rollercoaster of emotion and laughter through each performance. Learning this style comes with new technique and improv skills.