Module 6: Video Review

1.) I though Through the Eyes of the Sculptor was a really interesting video. I had seen many things on the methods for sculpting and always thought they were interesting. However, I'd never sen anything quite like this; getting to see the sculpture through all of its stages was really nice, and hearing the sculptor's opinions and plans was really enlightening. I did not know that there were artisans, whose entire job for a piece is shaping the form out of the original slab. Granted, I was aware there were different specialties in every art form, but I was not aware how specialized it could be. I really enjoyed watching the idea become reality. From sketch, to small model, to full-scale  model, to plaster copy, to finished work; it was fascinating to see the attention to detail and effort put into keeping the form and design the same between each stage. Remarkable that from initial model to the finished work, there was very little variance or change.

The video on Ceramics and Glass was pretty dull; I already know how glass and ceramic is made,  really like the old TV show How Its Made and they did an episode on it. I did enjoy the visuals; watching glass blowers is always fascinating and seeing the giant complicated machinery is always amazing. I hadn't heard of cold press ceramics, so that was really interesting; it looks like a very convenient way to make dinner plates and I really liked watching the guy glazing them by hand, it looked really cool the way he did it. I loved how out of date it was; it was from 1993, which means its 23 years old, so its only to be expected. The projections for the future of glass was pretty funny.

2.) The first video was very relevant to the text, it basically covered all four basic methods of sculpting; modeling, assembling, carving, and casting. In the process of making his sculpture, the sculptor in the film begins by modeling a clay figure, then he casts a plaster mold, and finished by carving the statue out of marble. The only method we didn't see in the videos was assembling, unless you count the work the sculptor did for that driveway entrance; the two horses and male in the middle, had to be assembled on their pedestals when the individual figures were done. The first video also covered a variety of materials mentioned in the book; like clay, stone (specifically marble), and plaster. The second video covered chapter 12; the sections on glass and ceramics and their uses. 

3.) I think the first video was interesting, and was a nice addition to the readings. The second video seemed unnecessary, as I thought the chapter covered them very well and they are common and familiar materials for most people.