Paragone Discussion

Paragone Summary Questions for “Standing in the Shoes” assignment:

Michelangelo vs. Da Vinci

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1. Do you think that one type of art is superior to another?
We didn't think that one kind of art is superior to another. Sculpting and painting are both amazing and equally take quite a bit of work to produce. It's just a matter of the talent that the individual artist has which determines its “worth”. We all gained more an immense appreciation for the process of actually sitting down, planning, and creating art in whatever form that it occurs.
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2. Do you think a discussion such as the Paragone is useful?
We thought that the discussion was useful as it allowed everyone to share both their unique as well as common experiences while working on their project. It also allowed us to learn from each other because artists need to draw on the experiences and inspiration of others to be able to create great works of art. In particular, Stephen could relate specifically to the paragone of Leonardo because he listened to music while sketching and found that it did help him relax and enjoy the process more. Kevin realized how technically difficult it was for Da Vinci to produce accurate looking sketches but concedes Leonardo’s point that it is easier to “repair damage” produced in painting (or sketch) more easily than a mistake in sculpture.
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3. How did your week as an artist influence your interpretation of this reading?
It definitely gave us all an insight into the real world experiences of an artist. It gave us a familiarity with producing art that made the reading more applicable. Those that did the sculpture could absolutely relate to the part where if too much material is removed then you pretty much have to start over. The group members who worked with soap noticed that chunks would break off quite easily making the process even more of a challenge. LaTaira ended up switching to wax as a more “solid” medium. Melanie in her effort to create a dolphin (and as soap shavings lay scattered on her couch) says she saw the process as more of revealing the dolphin within the soap bar by just removing everything that wasn’t her dolphin. Jenna found it hard to carve smoothly. Carving her domino was a lesson in concentration and patience.
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4. Did your group reach a consensus?
Yes, our group did reach a consensus in that all of us do not think that one type of art is superior to another. It all depends on the talents of the individual artist and all of us can appreciate a great work of art no matter whether it is a sculpture or painting. Also even though the assignment took either as much or more effort than planned, we all really enjoyed the experience. It allowed us to explore art further than just face value.
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