The Tragic Heroines of Waterhouse

Born in Rome in 1849, John William Waterhouse entered the Royal Academy in 1870. His initial training was in sculpting but came out to his first exhibition as a painter. Known as a late Pre-Raphaelite artist and one of the famous painters of the Victorian Era, his paintings contain consistent subjects which are of classical and literary figures. Two of the characters who take center stage in his paintings are Shakespeare's tragic heroine, Ophelia and Tennyson's The Lady of Shalott.

Waterhouse painting the Lady of Shalott in his studio (1891)
Source: wiki.cultured.com

Ophelia is the famous characters of Shakespeare's Hamlet. She is Hamlet's sweetheart who went into madness after he told her that he never loved her which lead to her drowning herself. The innocence of her character is one her qualities which is often romanticized. Waterhouse depicted her in three ways which all have a common element: a body of water, a meadow and poppies. The 1894 painting is very keen on this idea as it shows her just before she falls into the water. Angus Trumble points out this foreshadowing, pointing out the poppies which symbolize death and sleep, her closed eyes and the paleness of her skin and hair (victorianweb.org)

Ophelia (1894)
Source: Barton Galleries

Tennyson's poem The Lady of Shalott is the story of Elaine of Astolat who was cursed into a castle to watch the world from shadows and fell in love with Sir Lancelot as she saw him pass by. She escaped to Camelot using a boat but died just before she met him. Upon the sight of her, he remarked that she was lovely. She was depicted in two ways, one is of her first sight of Lancelot and the second, floating on her small boat towards him. Elizabeth Nelson describes a hint on the turn of events by describing the candles as reinforcing the "funereal tone of her embarkation." (victorianweb.org)

Lady of Shalott (1888)
Source: University of Adelaide Book

In an article by Richard Dorment he described Waterhouse paintings as "slick, professional and completely empty of real feeling or thought. A pleasant void." (telegraph.co.uk).  According to him it showed his skill yet lacked a emotional connection for its viewers. There is something "one-dimensional" about his work that should be present to make him a greater artist.

On the other hand, Brian Sewell said in his article that the The Lady of Shalott was a complex painting in its own element. According to him, Waterhouse challenges his viewers to think and that "once in a while the viewer must construct the tale from the evidence that Waterhouse has given him." (standard.co.uk).

Waterhouse's work only came about after the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was disbanded. This movement was pioneered by artists who became tired of the dull landscapes of academic paintings and thus reviving the style of painting between the Medieval period and the Renaissance which was that of Raphael Sanzio. This type of painting was also prolific during the Victorian Era because of society's patronizing of courtly love and romanticism. Romantic novels and poetry were widespread and gave way to people's ideas.

Whether this style of art is applicable to our time is subjective. It may have pleased the people during the nineteenth century but our contemporary society might be searching  for different aesthetics.Though, people who are interested literature can well appreciate this kind of painting. But we must always remember, isn't art subjective and beauty in the eye of the beholder since we hold our own experiences and opinions?

References:
Dorment, Richard. Waterhouse: the modern Pre-Raphaelite, at the Royal Academy - review. The Telegraph, 29 May 2009. Web. 25 June 2014.

Sewell, Brian. Phwoar! It's John William Waterhouse. London Evening Standard, 25 June 2009. Web. 25 June 2014.

"Ophelia". The Victorian Web. George Landow, n.d. Web. 25 June 2014.

Nelson, Elizabeth. Pictorial Interpretations of the "Lady of Shalott": The Lady in her Boat. The Victorian Web. 30 Nov 2004. Web. 25 June 2014.

Gold, Silver, Bad Luck

Depicting the lives of the elite during the time around World War II, Oro, Plata, Mata is clear reflection of a society faced with hard times. Directed by Peque Gallaga, the movie stars many well-known actors and actresses of our time who were just starting out during this film such as Cherie Gil, Sandy Andolong, Joel Torre and Ronnie Lazaro.

The movie started showing the flashy and extravagant lifestyle of the upper class as they joyously celebrated the debut of Maggie, the eldest daughter of the Ojeda family, until news of Corregidor struck and brought chaos through the party. The Ojedas were invited to stay with the Lorenzos to avoid the Japanese attack in Manila. When the war reached Negros, they escaped into the mountains where they encountered abuse and slaughter in the hands of the Filipino thieves. The movie ended with a celebration of the end of the war and the engagement of the couple Maggie and Miguel, the second son of the Lorenzos.

Source: pinoymovies.blogspot

At first, the movie gave off a Downton Abbey feel because of the sophisticated OBB and the glittering sights of the rich in a social gathering and of course set in the same era. With the OBB, I was very much impressed because of how it was presented in such a way that despite the meager editing tools during the time it was made, it was shown flawlessly and elegantly without too much effects in it. It was all in the cinematography which was consistently picturesque all throughout. It's also very interesting to know that Filipinos were already able to come up with it before much of the period dramas of that era came out. 

The film is an good example of Social Realism because a depicts a reality which occurred during that time of hardship and struggle. It was a big culture shock for those elites to be living in the condition, coming from a comfortable and well-provided living which of course led them to chaos. The characters were all very realistic with their characteristics such as the speaking little bits of Spanish, playing Mahjong and the nightly prayers. They had their own flaws and their development through the progression of  film was very evident, especially that of Miguel who progressed from being a sheltered boy to a man. 

As the film pulled to a close, it gave its audience a lighter tone after all the heavily packed action scenes and brutally visual shots. It gave a sense of hope yet pulled down with the words of Trining played by Cherie Gil as she noted that the war changed everyone into animals and that no matter what, it will leave a mark on all of them. 

Oro, Plata, Mata is probably as well suited title for the film since it does deal with the extravagant lifestyle of the rich and the difficulty they faced in parting with it. The bad luck that came was the war and how it took a toll on each of the characters was very evident, especially for the older women. Peque Gallaga was able to create a masterpiece and of course was able to make a name for himself in the film industry in the country by giving a relevant work to the current conditions of society during his time. 

Through The Surface of The World

Film and Architecture are two predominant forms of contemporary art. We see them in out everyday lives as we pass by different edifices and facades or as we simply open a our youtube channel. So putting these two elements together in an exhibition is very interesting and unique.

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCAD)'s new exhibition Surface of the World focuses on the moving image and architecture. This showcases different videos that feature architecture as its protagonist and how those around it affect it. Curated by Clare Carolin, it features 13 international artists.

Exhibition Entrance

As you enter the exhibition space realize the huge transformation of MCAD from the bare white walls to dark walls dividing it into section where visitors can view the different films, sitting on comfortable seats in enclosed or standing in open spaces. The different artworks are projected using various mediums and presented in a different manner such as projectors, televisions and a vintage projector which was used for Tacita Dean's Palast.

Exhibition Space

Entering the individual rooms that encased individual works, gave its own unique atmosphere the viewer sat down to watch, it engaged them and brought them to the exact setting of the film. The sound and images makes them feel as if they are a specter in the actual place and gave the same ambiance as it would in reality. Each piece entrances with its different elements.

Interloper by Saskia Olde Wolbers

Palast by Tacita Dean

Index (Elevated Train) by Cocoy Lumbao

Stunned Man (Trilogy of Failure II) by Isaan Julien

A Letter to Uncle Bonmmee by Apichatpong Weerasethakul

At the House of Mr. X by Elizabeth Price

This exhibition is the first of its kind in the Philippines and exposes Filipinos to more forms of Contemporary Art. Don't miss this unique and exciting show the will surely awaken your senses.

Let's Talk About Jane

When you think of pure romance and classic love stories in English Literature, probably one of the names that will pop in your head is Jane Austen. Her works have reached into the hearts of many hopeless romantics throughout the years and today, her legacy is still very much alive in the many adaptations and spin-offs of her beloved novels. Despite the fact that many criticize her work and call it boring or outdated, they cannot deny her strong influence on many popular films such as Clueless, which was one of the pioneers of chick flicks and Bridget Jones' Diary.

Portrait of Jane Austen. Image from gotaz.com.br

I remember a friend of mine once told me that having a favorite author is not just appreciating the style of writing and the plot but having a connection through the written word. It's as if you share a little secret with him or her which he or she transforms into a story. I could say that it's the same feeling I have whenever I read Austen's novels. Since I was in the latter years of grade school, I have been an avid Janeite which started with Pride and Prejudice, influenced by my sister. I fell in love with the tempestuous romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Probably almost every Janeite can say that they all want a Mr. Darcy of their own and I'm not an exception. After that, I strove to finish all the six novels and ended with Mansfield Park which became another favorite. Fanny Price is a very relatable heroine because of how her character matures from a mousy girl to a strong woman with independent thought. 

Jane Austen's Six Novels

Jane Austen Book Collection

During Austen's time, women were confined to quiet lives at home. An authoress wasn't exactly encouraged, especially if she was single but it didn't stop her from doing what she wanted. She had a mind of her own and didn't allow society to dictate her actions. Her mind was very sharp along with her words which can be seen in one of my favorite quotes from her: 

"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."

In each of her heroines, she plants a different part of herself which makes them very human with their own flaws and virtues. Though one thing is common among them, they are independent in their own way and in the end, still have their fairytale ending. Even if she didn't have the same ending, she was able to give happiness to her characters and readers during the final words of each novel.