Visual+E-Journal+Assignment+3

Assignment 3
 * Visual/E-Journal Assignment Using Hands on Materials**

The Robert Johnson Blues by A. B.







** 1. What was the process you used to create the pages? ** The process I used to create my Visual/E-journal was to create a series of four pages while listening to blues music. The music I chose to listen to was **Robert Johnson- The Complete Recordings 1990.** I used layers of white paint then touches of blue then finally red. Photos were altered in many ways and then added to the pages. Colored paper was torn to create shapes or cut to be more dramatic. All pages showed repetition/rhythm by visually showing 4 beats of the music (rhythm) by showing four dots, symbols, and the guitar. Oil pastels and ink were added to complete each page. The first page focused on the blues as a color and the sound of one instrument- the guitar – the beginning of Johnson’s career. The second page reflects Johnson’s life -his mom and family, hometown and his own crossroads. I still choose the color blue to the emphasis Blues – the sadness, the hurt, the pain. I created the third page while listening to //Dead Shrimp Blues//.I showed the four cord pattern and cord throughout the page. Shrimps were added with a few of the lyrics from the song. The last page tells the story of the song //Me and the Devil Blues.// The page shows the relationship between the Devil and Robert. ** What colors would you choose? ** I choose colors to tell the story of Robert Johnson’s life from birth to death. I started with the various hues and shades of blue. Blues is visually blue. Blue also represents to me the feeling of sadness, the sound of a single slow voice, and the lyrics of deep pain and loss of the artist in his music. When researching Robert Johnson, the color of blue also reflects the true hardship of his own life. His loss of family, not knowing his father, drinking, and to his own end being poisoned are all felt in his lyrics. I expressed his feelings in blue to emphasis the pain in pages one and two. A touch of red was slowly added as the pages progress to express the signs of the devil coming. It is said Johnson sold his soul to the devil. We will never know, but the last song “Me and the Devil Blues” expressed his feelings and thoughts. It captures strong imagery of his battle. Therefore, the last page is mostly red to show his hell and his final end being poisoned which contributed to his death at age 26. ** 2. What did you learn? ** I learned many things by doing this project. The first, everything you could possible want to know about Robert Johnson and how influential he still is today in the music world.Secondly, how music, feelings, and thoughts can visually be put to paper resulting in my view of the subject matter being seen in a very expressive, artistic way. Finally, by understanding the aesthetic process I have learned how to allow time to listen, see and make connections and to observe/notice the world around me therefore enhance an experience. ** 3. What possible resources you will use in the future related to what you have explored? ** In the future, I would love to have children do the same type of activity. They could create pages/picture reflecting their favorite music or a specific genre of music- like Blues. Children could design a collage that reflects their environment/culture or other cultures. Another activity would be to create a collage to visually capture a story they have read and select music to express the mood of the reading. ** 4. How does what you created (and the process you used) connect to your understanding about Aesthetic Education? ** This process made me listen and experience the music in a different way. Every time I would listen to a song, I would hear (notice) more and visualize it. Through researching the artist, I understood the context of his lyrics and the style. Learning the basics of Blues & music in class, I could understand and hear the textures, chords, and patterns of the music. I understood what I was listening to. Then when I created a page, I became part of the music. The connections I made to this experience were mostly from classes with Cherie and Mary Alice Brown. Cherie gave us the technical information about the Blues. She helped us understand the 3 chords, instruments, texture, voice inflections, and how to write lyrics. Mary Alice Brown gave us history, rhythm, the blues, and how important it is to this world. In real life and the future I will take the knowledge of how important it is to be aware of the arts around us. If we all try to experience just the basics of the art world it affects all of our senses, daily tasks, and relationships in powerful positive ways.
 * 5. What specific connections do you see between what you did with the visual journals and the course readings, real life and the future? **