Fyodor Dostoevsky

1821 - 1881

 

 

 

The form of art that I interact the most with is literature. In particular, classic novels that have stood the test of time. The most influential authors in my life thus far have included Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and many others. Though I have been most impressed and fascinated with the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky, a Russian author perhaps most famous for his novel Crime & Punishment. While I was first introduced to Dostoevsky in high school English, when we were required to read Crime & Punishment, I quickly found myself enthralled in his words and fascinated by his unique ability to identify with feelings that we all hold somewhere deep inside of ourselves. I was pleased to find this to be the case in The Brothers Karamazov, which was the second novel I read by Dostoevsky. Even in sections of his novels where there is relatively little activity, there is some deeper connection that he makes with the reader that maintains your participation. Unfortunately, while there are still great works published today, I find that the classic novels of Dostoevsky, and others, have an impressive depth and quality that is difficult to find. While I could understand that some don’t perceive novelists as artists in the traditional sense, I would strongly disagree. Dostoevsky has invoked great participation in the process of interpreting the content of his literature. Unlike a photograph, he has not simply stated a fact, but instead has masked the subject matter and thus has allowed for greater interpretation and consideration. I have learned much about myself and the world through his works.

 

 

http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/dostoevskybio.html#PersonalInformation

This webpage identifies the history of Dostoevsky’s personal life, as well as his a comprehensive list of his works. The introduction of this page identifies his most famous works, as well as his use of philosophical and psychological insights, which have been the aspects of his work that have impacted me the most. IT also addresses his impact on the world of literature, which many would find to be very interesting and eye opening. For those of you who do not particularly enjoy literature, or Dostoevsky in particular, you may find this page to be interesting as it explains his time as a prisoner in Siberia, sentenced to death, as a result of his involvement with intellectual and political issues. This experience gives a much greater understanding of the source of his novels, in particular many scenes of Crime and Punishment. This page delves into his work with short stories and periodicals as well.

 

http://www.egs.edu/library/fyodor-dostoevsky/biography/

While this page gives insight in Dostoevsky's biography, it is interesting in its description of Dostoevsky's critics and what led them to hold such sentiments. One such interesting relationship in Dostoevsky's career was with the famous Leo Tolstoy, which the article explains to have been a more complex relationship surrounding a deep respect despite such criticisms. This page also gives a detailed account of the events leading up to Dostoevsky's imprisonment, which I believe any individual who has read Dostoevsky's work would find very enlightening.

 

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Fyodor_Dostoevsky

I absolutely love this page, as it provides an extensive list of famous quotes from the author. For an author, their own words are more telling of themselves and their legacy than any biography could be. Dostoevsky's words are powerful and moving; I believe that anybody who wants a good idea of what his works entail would enjoy browsing his famous quotes and identifying the source of them. Something interesting about Dostoevsky, like many classic novelists, is that all of his works have very similar tones and it is very easy to identify his works. In other words, if you like one of his novels I would be very surprised if you didn't enjoy all of them. Without the pressures of modern media it seems authors had much more freedom to express their emotions as they saw fit, without the desperate requirement of keeping their publishers or readers excited. While I am sure that was important to them, it wasn't a priority in the way that it often is today -- or so that is my opinion.  I would strongly encourage all of you to follow Crime and Punishment or Fyodor Dostoevsky on Facebook. Obviously it is some individual posting their own choices, but they post famous quotes that can be refreshing to see in the middle of a busy work day!

 

I hope you enjoy! Time to go read..!

 

 

I hope you enjoy! Time to go read..!

Kid Cudi

The Man on the Moon: Scott Mescudi

     From a young age I fell in love with the rapper Kid Cudi, almost too young, to fully understand the completeness and fullness of his work. At the time, I was growing up in a poor family, and my parents were going through an ugly divorce. While Kid Cudi didn't speak exactly to the problems I was having, he rapped about the pain and loneliness. He knew what it was like to be living inside your head, and gave me the confidence and the attitude to get through it. Kid Cudi was also a beacon to my brother during this time, who took our parents' divorce a lot differently than me. For awhile I didn't understand why, but this was our commonality that made us still feel close.

    The reason I wanted to share this very well-known rapper, is because I want people to challenge the  culture of drugs that surrounds him and his music. There was a lot of criticism when Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager came out because it captured more of his struggle to quit using, instead of Man on the Moon: The End of the Day. There are a lot of raw emotions that he shares within his music, that I think sets him apart from other rappers. Even when Kid Cudi raps about some drugs (which seems to be a shared theme within the rapper community), you get both the good and the bad.

Kid Cudi Official Website
     The first website I have linked above goes to Kid Cudi's official website. Albeit a little commercial, it gives all the pertinent information such as CD releases and tour dates.

Scott Mescudi @ducidni
    The second website is Kid Cudi (Scott Mescudi)'s Twitter. I am a personal proponent of following your favorite famous people on Twitter. It makes them feel a little more real.

Dat New Cudi
    This is the fan site for Kid Cudi. I find it a lot more interesting than the official website, and I also love the design of the website more as well.

Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I find Louis Armstrong and his work intriguing because he achieved goals far beyond what his music was intended to do. He broke down racial barriers and stereotypes. Not only that, but he brought an entirely new genre of music into the mainstream of the roaring twenties and helped define the decade. Jazz has always been a favorite of mine, and Louis an inspirational figure. His work has stood the test of time and so has his up-beat, jazzy spirit.

http://www.redhotjazz.com/louie.html

This link will be particularly helpful for those who want to do additional research on Louis Armstrong. Anytime someone or something of importance is mentioned, you are able to click on the name and be brought to a link with an abundance of information on the subject.

http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_armstrong_louis.htm

This website is especially informative because you can listen to different songs of his as you read along with the article. Not only that, but those samples are very strategically placed. They are placed in chronological order and fit within the storyline. There are also sections done by Jazz critic Stanley Crouch in which he presents an overview of Louis "Satchmo's" life and music.

http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/armstrong/

This site describes Louis as a "cultural legacy" and tells us about his upbringing and family, among other details. It also includes photos of Louis family, posters, and record covers.

Michelangelo (1475 – 1564)

I have a strong appreciation for all things Italian and Michelangelo is one of the greatest artists to ever come out of Italy. Since I was young I am Italian and since I was little I always wanted to visit Italy; I got the grand opportunity to do so when I was about 15. One of the most amazing things I saw while there was the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and it is one of the most famous things in the world today. I was amazed by it and really began to love his work after seeing this. Michelangelo also did a lot of sculptures in Florence which I also happened to visit on that same trip. His sculpture work is all over Italy with most of it being in Florence. The sculptures really blow me away artistically because I am amazed that anyone can create such images out of marble. The talent and time these things take is incredible and I find it inspiring to see them still surviving today.

http://www.michelangelo.com/buon/bio-index2.html

This website has information on the early, middle and final stages of Michelangelo’s life. Along with his history you can find books and other things to buy about Michelangelo here and find resources for further research or teaching.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/379957/Michelangelo

This website had a detailed history of Michelangelo. It lists information about his works, projects, personal life and the influence he left on others.

http://www.michelangelo-gallery.org/

This website has a complete list of Michelangelo’s works of art. Check out some of the amazing art he has produced via this website and get a real feel for his influence on the world.

The Last Judgement, Sistine Chapel, The Vatican

Replica of David, Piazza della Signoria, Florence, Italy

Demi Lovato

My favorite artist is Demi Lovato. Demi has been working towards her dream of being a famous actress, singer, and dancer ever since she was four years old, and she has never given up. She started acting as a child, making her first appearance in Barney & Friends and by 2008, she starred in Disney's Camp Rock. When producers realized she could sing and dance, she got a contract with Hollywood Records. Her first album Don't Forget was a huge success, debuting at number two on the Billboard top 200 list. In 2009, Demi starred in a television series called Sunny With a Chance. Six months later, Demi released her second album, Here We Go Again, selling 108,000 copies in the first week. She bought her family a 2.25 million dollar house when she was just 18.  In 2011, she released her 3rd album, Unbroken, which sold 110,000 copies in the first week. Demi also worked as a judge on The X Factor for 3 years. During that time, she released her 4th album, DEMI. In her career, Demi has won 65 awards from People's Choice Awards to Young Artist Awards.

In November 2010, Demi's personal issues became more serious, and she ended up going to a rehabilitation center for three months. She dealt with eating disorders, self mutilation, drug addictions, family problems, and bipolar disorder. Instead of pushing everything aside,  Demi has taken a stand in philanthropy, courageously using her personal struggles and growth to help others. She has brought light to serious issues that people rarely talk about but need to, and has partnered with several different organizations and charities supporting unity and self confidence such as Mean Stinks, STOMP Out Bullying, Love Our Children USA, and Kids Wish network. She also created a scholarship in honor of her Dad to help supply treatment to people who need it. She also started to incorporate her experiences into her songs, and publically spoke about these taboo issues. She also wrote an inspiring book and released it this year about daily life lessons and support for people who need it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demi_Lovato
This site includes more specific and detailed information about Demi Lovato's work and personal life. There are also pictures. This site also includes information about she has worked with in the music and acting industry.

http://demilovato.com/
This website has information about her current tour, playlists of her songs, and media supporting her. There is also more information her successes and charities.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1416215/?ref_=nv_sr_1
This site gives more details about the shows and movies Demi was in, and more information about her personal life and family.

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Ryuichi Sakamoto is a Japanese music composer, musician, pianist, and an actor/model. He is multitalented in many different musical styles, including popular, orchestral, classical, new age, alternative, and film music. His success in the film score for Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) for which he received BAFTA Award for Best Film Music, as well as The Last Emperor (1987) which won him an Academy Award, has made him well known. My first encounter with his music was when I first listened to the electronic pop music song, Rydeen, as a child. Sakamoto and two other group members formed, YMO, the electronic pop music trio considered pioneers in their use of technology such as synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, drum machines, computers, and digital recording when these technologies were new to the field of music in late 1970. Sakamoto discovered electronic music during his education at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, and he later studied composition (classical and contemporary) and ethnomusicology at the same university. Though his success early on in his career has largely been credited to his ability to use music technology, Sakamoto’s piano playing is beautiful and strongly emotion evoking: It is the reason that I chose to write about Sakamoto. I also love his experimental approach to traditional ethnic music such as Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, and Brazilian, collaborating with a wide variety of musicians around the world. 

http://wn.com/ryuichi_sakamoto

This site provides the most comprehensive information about Sakamoto, including his biography, pictures, interviews and free music and video streaming. You can find many Sakamoto’s collaborative works with other musicians/artists as well as orchestral performances. 

http://www.furious.com/perfect/ryuichisakamoto.html

This web article is from an online music magazine which I believe that it might be helpful to understand Sakamoto’s music. It describes the significant cultural influence on his style and approach.  

http://sitesakamoto.com/
Sakamoto’s official website. It provides his tour schedule and ticket sale information, as well as his social activism project "Chain Music" to promote world peace with other musicians.

Claude Monet

When I was a little girl, my parents bought me a children’s book about Claude Monet (I took it everywhere with me). As soon as I caught glimpse of his famous series called Water Lilies, I was hooked. Ever since that moment, Monet has been an influential figure on my artwork. His paintings encapsulate nature in its purest form, which I find absolutely stunning. Years of practice and dedication raised Monet to a renowned artist who introduced a drastically different way of portraying the life around us. This last summer I traveled with my family abroad, and we were able to visit Monet’s house in Giverny and see the famous spot where he painted his series, Water Lilies. It was an incredible experience! After being there, my appreciation for his work grew even more. His role in the impressionist movement has continued to inspire me in my ventures with painting and reminds me that criticism nurtures growth. 

Links for additional information: 

http://www.monetpainting.net/museums_monet.php

This is an all around sight! It lists the museums on a global spectrum that carry Monet’s paintings. The link has an expansive gallery of his numerous works with their titles, sizes, and locations. Finally, it lists modern day news about all that is happening with Monet’s paintings and has an informative biography about his life. 

http://www.monetspalate.com/index.html

In all of my research of Monet, I was ignorant about his enjoyment and love for wonderful cuisine. I appreciated how this sight not only focused on his painting career but also on him as an artist for food. This link offers wonderful quotes and pictures; one becomes more acquainted with the man behind the art.

http://www.monet2010.com/en#/home/

Given we can’t all fly to Paris on a whim, here is a fantastic interactive website journeying through Monet’s artwork. With this online exhibition, one is able to experience his paintings in a unique and interesting manner. 

(Monet's representation)

(The actual sight - a picture I took in Giverny)