A Response to "Olympia's Look"

Suzanne Manet is the embodiment of a woman who has persevered in the face of infidelity and dealt with the pressure of feigning a public façade of content, all while hiding deep emotional pain. She dealt with matrimonial betrayal in possibly one of the worst degrees, but has not let these blows crush her spirit. She is an intelligent woman, and while she may have not been highly educated, she has learned many intricate details about people and their actions; she is incredibly observant. She reads dishonesty, fear, and apprehension in the human soul, and she yearns for an ounce of control in a situation that is obviously and consistently out of her control.

Two quotes in this sad, yet intriguing story exemplify Suzanne’s undying loyalty toward the husband whom she dearly loved in his living years and remembered with kindness. While there are clearly instances where Suzanne shows some resentment and anger towards Édouard, she still loves him despite some of his cruel, thoughtless behavior towards her. The first quote finds her asking Albert to reproduce her husband’s paintings for her, and she states: “A house with empty walls would be a house without him. I couldn’t bear that. So, if you can make replacements, it would mean the world to me.” Although his presence brought her pain and frustration in his living years, a world without Édouard seems like a lonely, colorless existence to Suzanne. This is hard proof of her strong character. This, in a manner, proves that she possesses abiding dedication and faithfulness to her deceased husband, even when he lacked the decency and self-control to show her the same loyalty.

The second quote that stood out to me occurs later on in the story, when Suzanne is at her husband’s funeral and observes the paintings of his subjects, many of whom were real women, with whom Édouard had strayed from her. She felt as though the paintings were mocking her and only reminding her of the misery and shame he had caused her. However, she also seems to view him as the victim, as he had suffered the tortures of syphilis before he finally passed on: “Any of them [the women] could have been the one to have caused his death.” This shows that she forgives Édouard and even seems to feel pity for him as she looks back on his poor choices.

There is no doubt that Suzanne Manet’s personal character has been formed by her sometimes joyful and sometimes devastating life experiences. However, I view her as a strong, determined woman who will not let grief or other people’s detrimental actions, even actions by those close to her, ruin her spirit. One instance that supports this idea is near the end of the story, where Suzanne goes to sit in Édouard’s old chair next to the fireplace in their home: “A fine fire it was, full of satisfying crackles, just like the ones they had in the happy time in Brabant. She chuckled softly, remembering the funny, surprised look on Édouard’s face when the wind racing over the flat land had whisked away his top hat on their wedding day and he went running down the dike road after it.” From this point forward in her life, she chooses to block out the poisonous memories of Édouard’s infidelity and only remember the joyful positive aspects that made her marriage to him special.

In all, I thoroughly enjoyed this short story by Susan Vreeland and think that she incorporated many intriguing, enriching elements into the storyline. Compared to her work “The Yellow Jacket,” it was hard to even tell that “Olympia’s Look” was written by the same author, as I found the previous story to be rather bland, unclear, and lacking a distinct plot. Vreeland does an excellent job of conveying the emotions of the characters to the reader in this story. I feel as if I personally know Suzanne and have heard about what has happened to her. This is certainly one of the best short stories I have recently read and analyzed.

An Annotated Bibliography on Alice Neel

This picture to the left, about which I wrote my initial commentary, is "Last Sickness" by Alice Neel. Here is my annotated bibliography on this fascinating American artist:


“The Art of Alice Neel.” The Whitney Museum for American Art. Arizona:
Traditional Fine Arts Organization, Inc., 2008. Web. 31 Jan. 2009.
http://tfaoi.com/aa/1aa/1aa668.htm

This website tells the interesting story of Alice Neel and her unique and sometimes shocking portraits and paintings of different people. This page addresses the specific issue of how Alice Neel’s life influenced her works of art. A number of her paintings are of her family, including “Isabetta” (1934), and her famous, haunting painting, “Last Sickness” (1953). “Isabetta” portrays Neel’s young daughter, in the nude, with an “assertive” look upon her face, while the aptly titled “Last Sickness” is a remarkably touching, melancholy depiction of Neel’s mother when she was in the final chapter of her life. On a related link to the website, http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/2aa/2aa410.htm, there is an actual image of the portrait, with additional information about Alice Neel and some of her other works. This article, like the article by Berger, also talks about how Neel became famous as her paintings increased in popularity and how her fame may have affected her artistic style.

Berger, Michael. “About the Artist: Alice Neel Biography.” Pittsburgh: Michael Berger Gallery,
2009. Web. 31 Jan. 2009. http://www.mbergerart.com/neel/about.htm

This website gives a concise, yet appropriately detailed biography of the curious, sometimes difficult and troubled life of Alice Neel. While the specific topic of her portrait “Final Sickness” is not directly addressed, Michael Berger, the author, delves into the personal struggles that Alice Neel faced throughout her life. Her family went through many turbulent occurrences, including an instance when “her first husband [she had two altogether] in a fit of rage destroyed 300 of her pictures,” according to Berger. He discusses how her style in art and portraiture changed in the later years of her life, as her personal tribulations began to ease. Her art consisted more of family and calmer topic, since, as Berger describes, “The anger and search for causes of her earlier work yielded to a new calm, a sense of humor and love.” Additionally, the author describes how Neel approached the art of portraiture, as she used no photographs and “relied on observation and memory.” Observation at its purest is one of the numerous facets that fascinate me about Alice Neel.

AliceNeel.com: The Website of the Alice Neel Estate. The Estate of Alice Neel, 2009.
Web. 31 Jan. 2009. http://www.aliceneel.com/home/

This website is the online source for almost everything one could ask for about Alice Neel. There is an incredibly detailed time-line style biography of her life throughout the decades, a gallery filled with many of her works, along with a listing of links that lead to more information about the unique American artist. Understandably, out of all the pictures and detailed information, I was surprised to find not a single image of her famous painting, “Last Sickness” on this website. However, I did encounter a strikingly similar Neel painting, also of her mother, appropriately titled “My Mother.” She completed this characteristically emotional, meticulous painting in 1952, only a year prior “Last Sickness.” Upon initially viewing “My Mother,” I immediately recognized the subject of the portrait to be the same elderly woman. Minimal shortcomings aside, this website, operated by the Alice Neel Estate, will be incredibly helpful in studying Neel and observing how her style morphed over the colorful decades of her unique life.

A Response to "Children of the Screen"

In this modern age of technological advances, electronic devices have become a regular part of our everyday lives. If an individual were to think about all the screens he interacted with daily, the facts would be surprising, to say the least. Indeed the improved technology of today’s computers and other appliances has helped to make work more convenient and less time consuming, to a degree. However, there is proof beyond a doubt that these screens we use everyday have become a substantially large part of the daily schedule. We all, to a point, have adapted to this sort of lifestyle. I fully agree with Hannah Baylon’s idea that “…in many ways, the media is our environment.”

One detrimental effect of modern technology is an increased workload, which leads to a rise in stress levels. Wait a minute; was not the point of improved technology to help save us time in our days? As computers become quicker and more capable of different functions, people in most professional work settings are automatically expected to accomplish more and finish challenging tasks in a more productive manner, with less human interface in the event of a problem or “system glitch.” This modern society is accurately termed the “age of anxiety,” as more people feel the increasing pressure to out-perform others in the work force, while improving their social lives. These goals alone do not necessarily lead to a happier, more fulfilling life. As Baylon states, “Many painstakingly climb the corporate ladder, believing the key to happiness lies at its height. Much like the proverbial pot of gold at the rainbow’s end, it is often discovered that there is no such reality.” People, as a whole, have thrown aside the idea of human interaction and simple delights in life to strive toward becoming wealthier, successful, and more respected by their peers and coworkers. We are not looking at the bigger picture of existence, and are instead focusing on getting through the “daily grind” without thoroughly losing our heads.

The sky-rocketing stress level of the average working American is likely the main cause of people spending leisurely time in front of a flashing television screen or video game. Modern individuals generally want the easy, thoughtless entertainment found in front of a screen. They return to their homes, tired and stressed out from a long day at work, and are too exhausted to spend their remaining mental energy on reading a novel or spending actual quality time with family and friends. Sometimes certain people allow themselves to become excessively inundated, almost obsessed, with media outlets; they allow their lives to be controlled by screens, thus “escaping reality.” Some people depend on this escape to ease their troubles. One unfortunate result of a lifestyle governed by media stimulation is the missed opportunity to discover one’s true gifts and talents, with which he may be able to benefit others, or perhaps even the world. Therefore, in consideration of all these facts, we must ask ourselves, “Does the constant endeavor for perfection have more of a detrimental effect on our lives than the positive result we are striving toward?”

Lastly, the image Baylon displays at the end of her social commentary is a precise visual representation of an individual who is imprisoned by electronic screens. While some may find the image disturbing, I think it is an accurate way for Baylon to express, “Is this the kind of person you want to become? Do you want your life to end up looking like this?” This child-like person in the image has an expression of pain, anger, and an overall dissatisfaction with life. The tape over his mouth shows how his gifts and talents have been silenced and squelched by his consuming reliance upon screens and visual stimulus to fulfill his life. This eloquent, forthright article by Ms. Baylon stands as a warning to all of us as to what our lives could melt down to if we lose our sense of true purpose in life.

The Picture of Dorian Gray -- Synopsis & Scene Selection

The Picture of Dorian Gray paints the story of a troubled young man who gets thoroughly (and unfortunately) caught up in his pursuit of pleasure. The story begins with a gentleman named Basil painting an elaborate picture of a respectable-looking Dorian; in response, Dorian remarks that he longs to remain young forever. Dorian later meets a charming, beautiful young songstress named Cybil, with whom he quickly falls in love. Dorian decides that he will propose to her, cheerfully telling Basil and Lord Henry about the exciting news. However, shortly afterward, he abruptly decides to end his relationship with Cybil, writing a letter to her and explaining that mere pleasure is the only joy he seeks in his life. Cybil is so devastated by his departure that she takes her own life.

Mr. Gray, meanwhile, begins to notice that Basil’s painting of him has started to take on a negative, vindictive appearance. Dorian places the tainted painting inside a classroom to which only he has the key, so that others could not encounter the warping image. As he sinks deeper into his depravity, people begin to avoid and shun him. One day, Basil confronts Dorian about some of the “hideous” stories he has heard about him, and he tries to convince Dorian to reveal his true soul. Therefore, Dorian leads Basil up to where the picture, now grotesque and repulsive, lies. Out of his impulsive hatred for Basil, Dorian brutally kills him, and the painting is additionally tarnished with the stain of blood.

After Dorian proposes to Gladys, the niece of Basil, she accepts, not realizing he was her uncle’s killer. However, Dorian eventually removes himself from her life as well to spare her from his evil, as he states, “This is the only good thing I have ever done.” Dorian finally cracks under the pressure of his malevolence and stabs the grotesque portrait in the heart. In his dead shell, Dorian physically takes on the wretched appearance of the painting, while the painting returns to its original state. The message of the plot plainly explains how one’s pursuit of pleasure and wickedness leads him to his own demise. This story undoubtedly illustrates Shakespeare’s statement that “God has given you one face, and you make yourself another.” The disgusting, ghastly morphing of Dorian’s portrait metaphorically depicts the corruption and filth of one’s soul who pursues base self-gratification.

One scene that is particularly vital to the premise of the story occurs about a quarter of the way into the film, when Dorian initially notices that his portrait is tainted by his evil. His youthful innocence in the picture is beginning to quickly fade away. As the narrator explains, “There appeared to be a touch of cruelty around his mouth.” His formerly charming appearance now looks malicious and callous in the picture. Although the first change is slight, it manages to completely alter Dorian’s appearance in the image. Dorian is so heavily disturbed by the changed appearance that he begins to think he is hallucinating, and he returns the next day to see that the painting is still contaminated with his iniquities. The scene unarguably sets the whole premise for the rest of the storyline, as the painting progressively warps and becomes more hideous with “signs of sin and signs of age,” as the narrator later states. When Dorian is about to die, the painting is not only portraying the advancement of his years, but also the continual building-up of his transgressions. Dorian Gray serves as an example to the reader of where a life of corruption and selfishness can lead an individual.

UH 280 "Who is that Person?" --Picture 4

One can learn a multitude of information about an individual through the simple process of analyzing his or her facial features and expression. Body language, especially in exaggerated forms, can illustrate a person’s emotions, harsh feelings, or elation at a specific moment. However, body language alone may not provide a deep enough look into the person’s past experiences, personality, or character. In everyday situations, people express themselves in numerous different fashions, displaying sides of their personality that may not entirely depict their true qualities or strength of spirit. The facial features of an individual, like the older woman in picture four, exhibit not only her personality, but also what she may have experienced throughout her many years of life.

Upon initially glancing at the detailed painting of the woman, it is immediately apparent that a sense of sadness and weariness pervades the mood of the picture. Her downcast facial expression shows that she seems to almost be in a state of shock at something tragic that may have happened. However, in considering her advanced age, she appears to have gone through a number of painful, heart-wrenching experiences that have helped to mold her facial expression into such a melancholy portrait. The lines on her forehead and underneath her eyes particularly show signs of weeping. Her mouth exhibits a frown, not out of anger, but out of grief; the lines around her mouth indicate that she has not smiled significantly in her life. However, whatever sadness or traumatic experiences that she may have undergone appear to have not completely devastated this woman in all aspects.

Another element that stood out rather strongly to me, after observing the painting for a while, was a sense of the strong spirit within the woman; this is slightly apparent in her demeanor. Although she may have faced great hardship, perhaps the loss of a close family member or poverty of some degree, the problems in her life do not appear to have completely crushed her. She has not allowed herself to collapse under the pressure of adversity or give up entirely on her life. To me, her slight slouch in the chair merely indicates the fatigue that many individuals experience as they grow old. She may be physically withered and tired out, but she remains resolute in steadfastly living out the rest of her days. Her lifestyle is simple, which may contribute to her having more opportunities to feel sorry for her condition, but she appears to be holding out, despite the loneliness or isolation she may regularly encounter. She epitomizes what life can sometimes put people through. While she may have had some happiness, she has been thrown some curveballs in her time on this planet.

This elderly lady truly fascinates me, and through observation of the image, I yearn to know more about her. If she happened to be sitting right in front of me, I would make countless inquiries about the life she led and leads, as well as the pain she may have suffered through. The aspect that intrigues me the most is the type of outlook and perspective she may have on life. Her past has clearly made her the person she appears as in the image. Her troubles may have hardened her spirit to a point, but they may also have helped to build her character. The painting is an excellent portrayal of how life experiences play a key role in molding an individual’s inner and outer integrity.