Art

People need to be critical of the various visual images that are marketed to them by both private and public organizations, and the beliefs, values, and behavior that these visual images project and promote, as well as the stereotypes they reinforce, so that they can actively resist images of oppression and discrimination, and the same time, people can also find that visual consumption can be more pleasurable, if combined with critical analysis, because it is through analysis that they can uncover the underlying meanings of common and uncommon art works and their impact on human thinking, attitudes, and behavior, so that they can be more empowered in forming the right responses to such visual projections. Visual consumption should not make us as passive consumers, but as active consumers using art as praxis, wherein we can also shape how images should be produced and consumed (Cary 1998, 38).

I spend around four hours a day watching TVmovies and two hours in the Internet. During this time, I also find myself, at times, asking what these images online and on the TVmovies tell me and ask me. I come to think of corrupt and legitimate governments that use artwork to oppress people or to discriminate against them. For instance, graphic video games about the American government or Americans waging war against Russia, North Korea, and other developing countries espouse aggression and stereotypes of these nations as hotbeds of barbarism, terrorism, and anti-democratic principles and ideas. These video games are sending the message that waging war is always just, when these countries are anti-American, which also connects to ideas of American hegemony.  These games are also sending the message that violence is acceptable in modern society and that the best and easiest option to settle disputes are through physical aggression and death of the enemy. These games no longer ask its players How about thinking of alternatives to violence How about giving chance to peace In this example, a legitimate government can also make use of video games to support its dominant thinking and attitude toward American-led wars and serve to justify the Iraq War and Afghanistan War, which in my opinion, are all wars that are losing public support momentum because of their costs to human lives and taxpayers. Another example is when a corrupt government uses artwork to promote elitism and subjugate the masses, through support high art that differentiates the masses from the ruling elite. This is the kind of art that promotes social inequities through demarcating the poor from the rich and the middle class, so that they would not be united in criticizing the governments corrupt practices. Hence, people should be critical of their visual consumption, and they should also analyze the underlying beliefs, values, and behavior that these visual images project and promote, as well as the stereotypes they support, so that they can actively resist images of oppression and discrimination. They can resist such oppressive images by gaining a better understanding of art and providing responses that condemn these meanings.

Artwork can also send specific values, beliefs, and attitudes that can be better appreciated through critical analysis, because it is through analysis that people can uncover the underlying meanings of common and uncommon art works and their impact on human thinking, attitudes, and behavior. Critical analysis can lead to the empowerment of forming the right responses to such visual projections. There is pleasure in critical thinking and its outcomes because people are enlightened of reality in these artworks and are now in a better position to respond to them properly. An example is Jasper Johns Three Flags (1958). It shows three flags that are imposed on one another, with the smallest version on the top. My analysis of this is that it asks viewers What do you think of the United States now, after two World Wars and the Vietnam War, and after its rise to global political and economic power Did the U.S. start small and went big through the past one hundred years or did it collapse to a smaller country, wherein individualism, material prosperity, and the increasing gap between the rich and the poor fractured the social and moral fabric My response to these questions is that for the past one hundred years, the U.S. has both developed and underdeveloped as a global power. It has developed because it amassed economic and political power. On the other hand, it is largely underdeveloped for its lack of understanding on the contextual factors that make the current wars, such as in Afghanistan, unsustainable, when its people have their own local beliefs and viewpoints on politics, economics, religion, and ethnicity, which all impact their need for and reaction to international military, economic, and political aid.

    Another example is Lumumba by Luc Tuymans (Belgian, born 1958), and this painting comes from The Museum of Modern Art in New York. See Figure 2. This painting both challenges and satirizes racial stereotypes. By presenting an African with glasses and coat and tie, Tuymans challenges the notions of the savage and uneducated stereotype of blacks. In addition, since the darkness of the person has been decreased, for me this can mean that the painter is also suggesting that perhaps, it will be more acceptable for people to see a black man as an educated person, if he is whiter than usual. In doing so, Luc Tuymans also challenges the thinking about color and educational attainment through his art. For me, these paintings also ask people to see art as praxis, so that they can also form reactions that challenge existing social inequalities and so that they can also produce or call for the production of art that eradicates social oppression and discrimination. Thus, these examples of artworks provide questions that only critical thinking can yield multilayered and contextual answers to. It will be more pleasurable to pursue visual consumption through critical thinking, because the process of critical thinking sharpens our mind and its outcomes provide a deeper understanding of art and even of visual consumption as a practice of praxis.

Source The Museum of Modern Art
    Common artwork also tells something about social values, attitudes, assimilation, and oppression (Schroeder 2002, 14).  I am referring to a doll house that I played as a girl, and I look at it now and see its Western values and ideologies. This is the dollhouse that symbolizes traditional American values and attitudes. It has a white fence, a red car, and an all-American family, wherein the mother stays at home to take care of her family, while the father is busy earning a leaving. The white fence espoused the symbol of perfection, wherein property rights are greatly promoted versus collective rights to land. The family roles are stereotypes that impress gender roles and caricatures of what a woman and man should be as they grow up. This dollhouse sends the message that assimilation means being this family and holding the same traditional American values, and that being different from the norm leads to different forms of oppression. For instance, if you belong to a minority race, you tend to face more discrimination at school and at the workplace. At the same time, the picture of a beautiful mother is an affront to the real life mother who must have increased weight and stressed out from juggling career and family obligations, as her multiple burdens. This perfect model also shows the beauty that is marketed by dominant businesses- white, sexy, and seductive. This is the marketing of beauty that also sends the message of women to be this kind of beauty, and so they are forced to fit physical and sexualized packages that the dominant marketing relays as the ideal beauty. Thus, a common artwork, through critical analysis, provides for a more insightful visual consumption and a self-awareness to not support values of subjugation and discrimination.

    Visual consumption can be an empowering and pleasurable process through critical analysis. Critical analysis serves as the magnifying glass that helps people look into these artwork and the images they project. Critical analysis helps people untangle the convoluted meanings that impose certain ways of thinking, values, and attitudes in life. Finally, critical analysis creates a whole new way of consumption through praxis, wherein consumers recreate new meanings that question and dispel images of subjugation and discrimination. Critical visual consumption, hence, pushes people to pursue and develop higher thinking levels, wherein they can free themselves from the artwork that serve to subjugate them or other disadvantaged groups.

    The renaissance refers to a period in history between the 14th century and 17th century characterized by widespread Cultural Revolution that began in France and spread throughout   Europe (Neal  John, 2005). The renaissance was characterized by reforms in education, classical based learning and development in linear painting the era is credited with many contributions in intellectual matters, many social and political upheavals as well as its artistic impressions. Scholars during this period employed the method called humanist in order to identify realism and emotions in art. The renaissance is also attributed to contribute to the development and the rebirth of artists and their careers exemplified by the life and works of Nichol Machiavelli.

     Machiavelli was a Frenchman who lived a life of patriotism and politics between 1469 and 1527. His writings in politics were misunderstood at the time especially his work on the prince a book he wrote in order to win back support of the Medici the ruler at the time after he fell from office (Edmund, 1999). The book didnt win him the support favor he needed after the Medici rejected it due to its support for cruel and totalizes leadership. This made Machiavelli to have a bad reputation among the general public due to his views on politics at the time and therefore even when there was a chance for reelection after the unification of France he could not be re elected. Despite his other works like discourses in livy that revealed his political genius he was attacked during his lifetime and thereafter for this bad reputation. His true personality and rebirth has only been revealed recently making people to change their views about him to that of true patriot and as a genius in politics (Neal  John, 2005).

Each year there are billion dollars spend as a celebrity endorsement contracts like Tiger Woods, Britney Spears. Using super stars well generates attention to the public, rich and poor, young and old ones. The more it appear on public the more it gets public interest and as a result it increase revenues.

It is estimated that Woods are earning over 100 million dollars from his endorsement deals alone the 90 comes from endorsements.
Nike a 30-million deal(Talmazan, 2009)

What is fashion Its a question that we need to know first, its define as

The style that mostly worn by people on a particular country it was mostly popular within 1-3 years and a new design well born. Fashion has a lot of changes and evolution.

It is now a custom to have a parade of clothing style every year and it was now handed from generation to generations.

Selling the clothing style on a lower prices or affordable made people buy more styles of clothing during  1800s as one of there strategies.

It is common if there is a new brand of fashion celebrity endorser is used because they create great impact to the viewers.  People idolized them and copy what they wear looks or how they act thats how powerful they are when they appear on screen, billboard or magazines. Even the small children mimic them. Using celebrity endorser will make their products more sales because they are using their influences to the people. Products or fashion that they are wearing are now in demand.

I do feel actors turned designers are running the image or fashion designer because they make sure that as a designer or an endorser on that particular products they are sincere to it with compassion and love and win the hearts of the public. They are being looked up as a model. They are like a white piece of paper that once it is stained it is now a trash and can be dumped to the garbage. That will happen also to the products, Endorser or designer must preserve their reputation and trust.

Roberto Cavalli is known as a flamboyant designer, he is one of the knowledgeable  what you want in terms of fashion. There are few who can compare the Italian designer he has long been a pioneer in fashion talks. He is a son of a tailor that why he was expose on the industry on its young age. Hes so artistic.

Betsey Johnson was born on August 10, 1942, at Wethersfield, Connecticut. She is known in the fashion world  for her feminine and whimsical designs.  Over the top are some of her designs. She attends dance class since child that motivates here to as a fashion designer.

The King Leopolds Ghost written by Adam Hochschild is a very interesting historical account of a voyage of a selfish king to the one of the richest countries in Africa. This voyage showed some of the cruelest treatments and forms of slavery to the natives while these inhuman actions are masked with the philanthropic disguise of King Leopold and his men.

8As King Leopold discouraged and discredited most of his opponents as shown in Chapter 7, in the succeeding chapters he continued to establish and hold his new colony. In 1888 he established a private force which he called as Force Publique which is basically a combination of guerillas, polices and mercenaries. It was composed of a single or two white officers and mostly black soldiers. As Leopold had taught, problem can arise in keeping peace and subjugation since most of the army is black in origin so he makes sure that the soldiers are not assigned to their place or tribe of origin. This makes his army impersonal in treating its subjects. Leopolds Force Publique defends him to many mutinies and revolts that arose in Congo.

In these times, different forms of maltreatment and brutality to natives can be seen such as murder, rape and tortures. As stated directly from the book, White officers were shooting villagers, sometimes to capture their women, sometimes to intimidate the survivors into working as forced laborers, and sometimes for sport (110). To keep his black subjects from revolting, Leopold spread terror in the region. To gain profits and capitals, Leopold demand the natives of ivory which he used as a payment system. Also, in this chapter, it was shown how lands were seized and taken from the natives by Leopold.

9The next chapter revolves around Konrad Korzeniowski as the title of the chapter says. He is more popularly known as Joseph Condrad who was regarded by his novels. He was born in Poland and grew in France. He spent most of his time travelling. He then travelled to Congo but returned to England because of malaria. After some years, he published the novel Heart of Darkness which is regarded as one of most wide read short novel written in English. The novel is all about a man who travelled in Congo and other parts of Africa. In the novel, the main character encountered some of the most atrocious acts of men to his fellow men. Most of the characters and events in his novel portrayed what is really happening in Congo at that time.

10In the succeeding chapters, Stanley was mentioned again. He went back to England because of his sickness and married a rich socialite painter. He totally gave up his conquests and just spent his time travelling the world and delivering lectures.

A new character was also introduced in the name of William Henry Sheppard. Sheppard is an African-American missionary who then became popular to the local tribes there due to his proactive approach and emission of good energy to people. Among the tribes, he was referred as the black-white man. He was accepted warmly by the natives and he even became the first non-native to visit the Kuba capital. In his travels and stay in the region, he was also exposed to the atrocities and crimes committed by the conquerors to the natives. Because of these perceived experiences which he found as injustice, he wrote different letters to his friends in the other parts of the world spreading the message.

In the later part of the 19th century, the cost of rubber increased making it an important commodity that is used in tires, wire shielding and other objects. This new expanding market corresponds to the dwindling supply of ivories which was formerly the bulk of the products produced in Congo.

Since Congo is rich in vines that can be processed to become rubber, it instantly became a new product to be focused on. Because of this, King Leopold demanded the people to gather rubber. He imposed stricter rules regarding the production. He abducted and seized women to serve as collaterals for men who go to the jungle to collect raw materials. His men hold the families until the men can deliver specified amount of rubber. If they dont meet the quota, their hands were cut and served as their punishments. Quoting directly from the book, In payment for rubber which I brought into the station (natives), telling me I could eat them, or kill them, or use them as slavesas I liked (164).This only shows how the natives, both women, men and children are objectified at the time. It is also important to note that as the demands for rubber in the other parts of the world grew, the maltreatment and slavery in Congo also worsen.

King Leopold continued to uphold his image in the world as someone who is concerned to natives and do a lot of humanitarian missions. He continued to proclaim his self as a benevolent leader while the people of Congo suffer under his control. Out of the massive profits he made out of ivory trade and the recent expansion of rubber market, he managed to erect buildings and private palaces. On the other hand, concerned characters such as Sheppard the missionary continuously make a way to attract the attention of the international community. However, he fails to attract attention to alleviate the situation in Congo.

11The next chapter however brings some new light in the situation in Congo. A British shipping firm in the name of Elder Demster has a contract with King Leopold. They transport goods from Belgium to Congo. During these trades and travels, Morel, a clerk in the firm noticed after months of working that the shipments from Belgium contain merely firearms and ammunitions in exchange to the shipments from Congo which are merely ivory, rubber and other important goods. After analyzing the situation, he believed that the only reason why these trades continue is because of the ongoing and widespread slavery in Congo. This became the shifting point of the story.

12After Morels discovery of the content of the crates, the next succeeding chapters became the start of the fight against the human rights violators of Congo primarily Leopold. Morel started publishing articles in the early part of the 20th century. Because of these acts, he was forced to resign out of the shipping firm and later joined the West African Mail wherein he continued his fight. However, out of bribe and pressure, he was forced out of the said paper and that leads him to dedicate all his time and efforts in informing the officials and the people to what is really happening in Congo.

13After tons of efforts, something good came up. In 1903, the British parliament passed a resolution regarding the atrocities that are happening in the said region of Africa. The governments sent an envoy in the name Roger Casement who later published the famous Casement report wherein he compiled the atrocities and corruption of the white men in Congo. As directly quoted from the book, . . .the reports accounts of sliced-off hands and penises was far more graphic and forceful than the British government had expected. (203)

As a support for Morel, a man in the name of Shanu who was a former employee of Leopald secretly sends him information that will help their fight. The communication was stopped after Shanu was exposed as an accomplice of Morel wherein he later committed suicide.

14The last part of these set of chapters however does not concern much of Leopold in his affairs and hold in Congo. This part is all about Leopold and his affair with a teen prostitute in the name of Caroline. He brought her back in Belgium wherein they continue to do their sexual escapades. This was known to the public and these became a great liability to Leopolds reputation.

To be honest before reading this book, the events in Congo roughly entered my mind. It is hard to imagine that people who consider themselves as civilized can do this to their fellow men. The atrocities and inhuman treatments committed are so shameful that you dont want to be associated with. I believe that these events should be refreshed to the memories of our people especially the youth so they will safeguard their selves against the desire to abuse other people.

    The interconnection of Byzantine art and the Eastern culture of Asia particularly China and India paved way for the enrichment culture as well as the sharing of technologies. The immersion of Byzantine culture into Eastern Asia culture took place primarily due to the journey and expansion of the Empire taking place which coincides with the advancement and development of external trade relations by China and India. Since India and China were advanced civilizations in Asia, they were also part of the reason why Byzantine art showcases Eastern Asian touch (Bassett 2004). China and India were in constant trade arrangements and religious connections and thus when the expanding empires came through these regions they accepted trades and learned part of each regions culture.

    The specific art type that shows an interconnection of Byzantine and Eastern Asia works of art would be the mosaic. Mosaic have high cultural significance due to the fact that they can be found on many historic sites and resemble figures of religious perspectives as well as the ruling class. Byzantine art primarily uses mosaic to portray religion, kingship and the theme of power. Similarities of Byzantine art and Eastern Asian art include primary materials used, harmony in relation to nature, and the heavy use of symbolism (Dark et al. 2002). An example of mosaic art that shows similarities between Byzantine mosaic and Eastern Asian mosaic is Ravennian Mosaic depicting Emperor Justinian and Bishop Maximian. This particular mosaic art shows the unifying theme of power in art and the regard for the ruling class which can also be seen in Chinese and Indian art. On the other hand, the difference between Eastern Asian and Byzantine art would be ways o how these mosaic art products were used (Bassett 2004). In Eastern Asia, mosaic art can be seen in pottery, glassware, floors, walls and other ordinary items that can be used or seen in the daily life of an Asian.

In Byzantine, mosaic art was limited to walls, ceilings, sculptures and figures of grandeur and power.
Essentially, Mosaic, as an art is a way of creating an image through the use of small pieces of material which are glued and assembled together to form one image. Materials for mosaic would include glass, metals, stones and wood. Mosaic art was done primarily using a direct method of applying the bits and pieces while forming them to create one unifying representation (Evans 2004).
Byzantine art is mostly portrayed by mosaic art. The style of Byzantine echoes in mosaic through the use of images of empire related themes and also religion. Indian and Chinese art related to this by providing a connection which gives more attention to details and the immersion of symbolic ideas within the theme of power and religion. Another example of Byzantine art that showcases this connection to Eastern Asia would the mosaic of Christ Pantocrator. Although Christian, China and India also prioritize their religious life in their art by making it a continuous theme of images throughout one group of art works. These direct portrayals of high regard for religion translates into Byzantine art. Overall, the substitution of a Christian religion to the themes of Eastern Asian art highlights the significant connection of Byzantine art. Artists in Byzantine took the idea and concept of Eastern Asian art and molded into a specialized style in their own country.

    The Romantic Movement in the arts occurred from the late 18th to mid nineteenth centuries. Romanticism came about mainly as a response to the rational, scientific ideals of the Enlightenment, and focused on the artist, musician, or writers emotional response to nature, to heroism, and the ancient myths and traditions. (Jansen, Horst, Woldemar, and Janson, Anthony, F 672) Many artists became popular during this period including, William Blake, Gustave Dore, and John Henry Fuseli. While many think of the works of J.M Waterhouse, and Thomas Gainsboroughs depictions of beautiful women from mythology as being more representative of that art of this period, this is not the case. Many artists of this period focused upon the dark or macabre aspects of nature, of heroic tales from history, and of mythology rather than idealizing them in order to make them aesthetically pleasing.

The Artworks
    The first painting by William Blake is called the book of Job When the Morning Stars Sang Together. Blake painted this work in 1820. It is a watercolor painting and measures 280x179 millimeters. The primary colors in this painting are white, blue, gold, black and red. At the bottom of the painting we see the biblical character Job in the center, surrounded by his wife, and daughters. Job and his family are painted in white and gold, yet they are surrounded by darkness. Above Job in the center of the painting is God. God is the focal point of the painting, and is the largest figure in the painting. He has his arms outstretched as if to welcome Job and his family. On the left side and above the figure of God are groups of angels. One group is leading a group of horses in a charge, while the other angels are arrayed above God and appear to be singing. On Gods right hand side is the devil holding a whip, and surrounded by snakes as if to represent temptation. The devil is colored in red and black. The upper background of the painting is the evening sky in dark blue with golden white stars.

    The perspective used in this painting is linear. The placement of Job at the bottom center of the painting draws the viewers eyes upwards towards God. God is at the exact center of the painting. God is also the focal point in the painting in that he is the largest figure in the painting. With his arms outstretched God takes up a full 13 of the painting. Blake uses a stunning combination of darkness and light in this painting. He places the figures against a back ground of the starry night sky. The figures of God, his angels, and Job and his family are all painted in white, and the use of light focuses primarily on these groups of characters making it appear that they are almost highlighted. Blake also uses the atmospheric perspective in order to highlight the central figures in the painting while casting the figures to Gods left and right into a sort of darkness.

    Blakes use of color is magnificent. He uses colors that complement each other in order to bring out details that might otherwise be ignored by the viewer. The watercolor method that he uses makes the figures seem ethereal and unreal. The painting uses a brilliant combination of warm and cool colors. When the viewer looks upon this painting it inspires a sense of awe, and the viewer can literally see the story that Blake is trying to tell in this painting.

    Hecate or the Three Fates is a second well known work by Blake. The painting was created in 1795, and is created from pen, ink, and watercolor. The painting measures 430x58 millimeters. The painting uses the colors brown, peach, black, grey, and red. The figures depicted in the painting are the Fates of Greek and Roman legend. There is an owl to the right that can be interpreted as meaning wisdom or knowledge, and a donkey that can be interpreted as meaning ignorance. Above the heads of the Fates is a bat like figure, and in the background is a monster, or demon.

    Blake uses chiaroscuro effects in this painting to give it a dark and gloomy feel. The center of the painting is Hecate, one of the Tree Fates, who appears to be the main subject of the painting. She is the only one of the Fates to be clothed, and she wears a robe of black. Hecate has a hand on a book signifying her role as one of the Fates. Blake uses linear perspective by placing the other figures in a triangular shape in order to draw the viewers eyes towards Hecate in the center of the painting.

    Blake also emphasizes the subject of the painting by only using lighter colors to paint the fates. The animals and monsters that surround them are painted in darker colors indicating that that the Fates themselves are subjects of the painting. This painting causes the viewer to respond with both awe, and fear at what the Fates might be planning next.

    In comparison, the works of Gustave Dore are less frightening in terms of subject matter. They are however different in terms of the technique and materials used to create the paintings. In the painting Alpine Scene the viewer sees a dark and frightening forest that looks out onto a clear and sunny mountain scene. The painting is created from oil on canvas which gives the painting depth and texture in comparison the watercolor paints used by Blake. The painting was created in 1865 and measures 77 x 51 18 inches.

    Dore uses linear perspective by placing tall dark trees on both the left and right sides of the painting draw the viewers eye towards the sunny blue sky with only a few clouds, and the brightness of a mountain meadow. The colors used in this painting include, greens, blues, browns, grey and black. These colors can be considered complementary colors and add to the aesthetic beauty of the painting.

    Dores focus in this painting is on the wildness of nature, and the beauty of the landscape. Rather than a singular figure being the subject of the painting, Dore seems to focus upon the concept that nature, is not tame, and that it is neither darkness, nor light but a blending of the two.

    This depiction of nature can also be seen in another work by Dore. L Enigme is created with oil on canvas and measures 1.3 cm x1.955m. The main colors used in the painting are black, grey and white. The scene depicts a wild landscape damaged during a battle. The landscape is literally destroyed, there are dead bodies everywhere, and the ground appears blown apart in spots. There are two figures in the painting which appear to be mythological characters. One is perhaps a sphinx, and the other is a harpy. The viewer can see the remnants of weaponry lying on the darkened ground. The sky is filled with smoke and fumes from the battlefield.

    Dores use of dark colors emphasizes the mysterious aspect of the painting. The viewer does not know who the figures are, what the figures are, or where they came from. The contrast between the darkness of the battlefield, and the light colors used in painting the sky only emphasizes the two mysterious figures in the foreground.

    This painting inspires a sense of foreboding in the viewer, while it is fantastical, it also emphasizes that these mythological creatures are not there for any good purpose. Overall the painting is aesthetically pleasing. Dores painting is detailed and descriptive. Dore also utilizes a linear perspective by placing the two main figures in the painting somewhat off-center in order to draw the viewers eyes to the figures rather than focusing upon the carnage that surrounds them. Dore main concept appears to have been to emphasize the horrors of war.

    The work of John Henry Fuseli is both similar and dissimilar to that of Blake and Dore. The painting Oath on the Rutli measures 25 58 x 21 38, and is created from oil on canvas. The main colors the work are red, blue, and yellow. The central figure in the painting appears to be that of a man with his arm upraised holding a knife as if  he is about to attack one of the other figures in the painting. To the central figures left is a figure with red toned skin. This figure has their arm upraised as if they are being attacked. The figure on the opposite side has his arm uplifted as if to try and prevent the main character from killing the red skinned figure.

    The mood of this painting is dark and somber. The colors clash violently, and one can tell that Fuseli was not painting the story of a myth or legend with a particularly happy ending. Fuseli uses linear perspective to draw the viewers eyes towards the central figure by placing the red and blue skinned figures to his right and left. The viewer feels awe and fear when viewing this painting and wonders what the central figure is planning to do to the red skinned figure on the left.

    Fuseli creates a dramatic scene with his use of vibrant yet clashing, reds, yellows and blues. The colors that are used in this painting can be viewed as symbolic of the violence that is seemingly about to occur in the painting. This painting is not aesthetically pleasing, however it does fit into the emphasis on the fantastical and mythological that is often seen in the artworks of the Romantic era. However in other paintings, Fuseli tends to fit into the stereotype viewers have of Romantic art (e.g. Gainsborough and Waterhouse).

    This can be clearly seen in the painting Milton Dictating to his Daughter. (httpwww.artic.edu)  This painting measures 121.7x 118.7 cm and is created from oil paints on canvas. The main colors are white, black, blue, and red. The painting depicts blind, 17th century poet, John Milton dictating poetry to his daughter. Milton is on the right, and sits in an almost throne like armchair. He is dressed in traditional Puritan clothing and stares blankly holding his hands in front of him. Miltons wife sits to the left, in the background. She is dressed in a red Puritan dress, and appears to be either knitting or sewing. Miltons daughter is the focal point of the painting. Unlike her parents, she does not wear traditional Puritan garb. Her clothing is white and diaphanous and appears to be Grecian in style. She is holding a notebook and an ink quill and is paying close attention to what her father is saying.

    Miltons daughter appears to have much of the idealized beauty that one typically sees in paintings of the Romantic era. The subject matter however is not traditional in that Romantic artists did not typically paint pictures of authors, or other celebrities. The focus was more upon heroes or mythological characters. This painting is intriguing in that it diverges from what was commonly accepted as Romantic Art. It is a simply family scene that leads the viewer to wonder what is truly going one. Fuseli demonstrates an interesting use of space within this painting in that there are few other objects within the room, other than the daughters notebook and quill and the fathers chair. The majority of the painting is taken up by the three figures of Milton, his wife and his daughter. Finally, this painting is unique in terms of Fuselis use of light. Fuseli used light in such a way that it seemed to emphasize Miltons blindness, by creating a setting in which Miltons daughter was the only brightly lit, and light colored figure in the room, when all else was in shadow.

Despite having been influenced by Mesopotamia in different ways (trade and technology), the Egyptian civilization formed a quite unique society and culture. In many ways they are both related and different. However, no one can deny that both civilizations managed to produce extra ordinary piece of arts with the ingenuity of their craftsmen and with the help of the wealth of their lands.

Architecture
    Both civilizations erected huge monuments. Among these monuments, the most famous are their pyramids. In many cases, Egypt is characterized with their colossal pyramids. The same with the Mesopotamia, they are often portrayed doing rituals in their ziggurat. In Mesopotamia these huge buildings are referred as ziggurats. The ziggurats are constructed by sun-dried mud brick which are not as long lasting compared to the materials used in other pyramids. These make Mesopotamian pyramids not to last as far as the Egyptian pyramids which are made of brick and stone. As scholars would say, Egyptians buildings and monuments are built to last forever.
 

Design
    The Egyptian pyramids are constructed to use its internal structure while the Mesopotamian ziggurats are primarily used as a platform. This makes the design of two kinds of buildings to vary. The Mesopotamian ziggurats outside are painted with bright colors with staircase leading to the top of it. As scholars would describe it, terraced pyramid of successively receding stories. The Egyptian pyramids outside structure however are crude in color (stone or brick colored) and does not provide an access to the top level using a staircase outside.

    However in a particular pyramid of Egypt which is referred as Saqarra who was made for the pharaoh Djoser-Netcherikhe a pyramid that somewhat resembles the Mesopotamian ziggurat was built, the Egyptians referred it as the Step Pyramid.

Utility
    Aside from the materials and design used in construction, Egyptian pyramids and Mesopotamian ziggurats differed in their utilities. The ziggurats are known for their importance and significance in religious gatherings and rituals. The Egyptian pyramids however are known for their housing of the corpse of the Egypts pharaoh.

Paintings
Themes
The theme of the Egyptian art primarily revolves on religion and their respect for death or the afterlife. Much of the Egyptian art symbolized power and the order in the Egyptian civilization. Also, the use of animals is widespread in many wall paintings. The use of specific colors also portrays specificity in the characters of what is being portrayed. Gold for example are commonly used in royal characters while red are often used to portray the youth and the warriors.
Most of the paintings of the Egyptian portray wars. They paint their warriors, their chariots and their leaders in battle. Aside from wars they depict some of the events wherein their gods communicate with their leaders.

Layout
It is noticeable that in both Egyptian and Mesopotamian paintings, there is a similarity on how a 2 dimensional image is portrayed. The head, the legs and the feet are shown in their sides while the torsos are shown frontally.
See pictures below
 
Sculptures
Royal Masks
The Golden Mask of Tutan Khamun is one of the most celebrated pieces of masksculpture. It is a mask weighing 24 pounds of solid gold, inlaid lapis lazuli, carnelian, quartz, turquoise, obsidian, and colored glass.(Deurer 1996)
The Helmet of King Meskalamdug is comparable in different attributes with the Golden Mask of Tutan Khamun.
Gold for both civilization become the currency in building prestigious objects that are usually reserved for the royals.
   
The Eyes
It has also been observed that many of the Mesopotamian sculptures are engraved with huge eyes. The sculptures found in Abu Temple in Tell Asmar are great examples of the sculptures with this characteristic. This implies the emphasis of the Mesopotamian in the eyes of a character.
In the Egypt however, eyes are often drawn or engraved as narrow and smaller. Eyes are only emphasized with the use of color linings typically black in color (commonly known today as eye liner).We can often see these in the paintings in the walls of a pyramid. Aside from the drawings in the wall, this is also noticeable with the discovered precious masks of their rulers in the past.
See pictures below
       
No one can deny the riches of both the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilization. Both of them made the transition from the prehistoric to historic. The importance of their accounts of their daily lives, their rulers and their gods cannot be discounted especially for our understanding of the earlier people. They also spearheaded the value and importance and legacy of erecting one of a kind structure that will inspire the future generations to strive for perfection and innovation.