The Dark Side...

So watched the finale of Hamlet in class on Monday...  I have decided that Shakespeare really doesn't like to leave any characters standing, they must be better off dead!  I felt so bad for Ophelia because she just couldn't stand the depression stemming from her father's death, which made her quite crazy.  I know that when I am disappointed or upset from something I may do strange, unusual things, but I don't think I would ever go to her extreme.  I am almost surprised that Hamlet didn't become even crazier after seeing Ophelia's crazy state, knowing that the love he had for her would probably never be the same.  Well, all I have to say is so much for happy endings in Shakespeare's mind...although if heaven was their destiny then possibly that would make it better.

Next we discussed the art and religion aspects surrounding the reformation.  Again, I enjoy looking at artwork, but I feel that I prefer the simple portraits or the landscape ones versus the depressing or abstract ones.  Mannerism seems to have less rules about how things should look, which could have been especially helpful for artists so that they don't have as many expectations.  I almost think it makes the artwork more exciting and interesting because your eye isn't necessarily drawn to one spot and there is so much going on within the painting.  It is fun to actually have the background design be detailed and show a part of the story.  I am still somewhat surprised that since the church was usually the patron of the artwork that some of this artwork was approved.

While it may have scared the men and it kind of grosses me out, I kind of like that they had the painting of the women overpowering the guy and chopping his head off ("Judith Slaying Holofernes").  And I'm not even close to a feminist!  I think it more just shows that women can be powerful and anything is possible!  I have actually seen some of El Greco's work while I was in Spain, but never really liked the style, it seemed quite bizarre and dark.  I much prefer the happy, family atmosphere portrayed by "The Feast of Saint Nicholas."  With all this gorgeous artwork being produced, it is slightly surprising that it took until this time for the art market to totally flourish.
Next we will be reading some of Bacon's essays and just from looking at the titles they should be quite interesting...it's always interesting to hear people's views on things like death and love!