I appreciate art. I can understand the devices used in modern and abstract art. I can usually figure out the argument the painting and the artist are making. I can determine what the styles, colors, and devices used tell us about the picture or sculpture. But I don’t enjoy and don’t truly understand it. It is possible this is because I have never really been exposed to it, but it is more likely it’s because I understand practical, hands-on, and straightforward renderings of realistic images and objects. In terms of sculptures, I enjoy and understand works that accurately portray real-life images. That is the reason I chose Fallen Dreamer—it was the most realistic sculpture available.

I believe the lack of training and exposure to “modern art” (i.e. abstract) is simply a result of the culture I grew up in. Being homeschooled, I was taught what my parents and local homeschool groups thought were important. Abstract art was not on the list. In addition, almost all homeschool high school curriculum is written from a conservative (in many cases ultra-conservative) perspective. In such a worldview, realism is exalted in art. Abstraction is frowned upon. That is not to say abstract art is not taught, on the contrary it is given significant portions of history books. However, it is seen as a perversion of pure art. Thus, I have never been in a culture that emphasizes abstract art. Along the same lines, I have never really seen the point of art (or sculptures) that don’t attempt to have any semblance to the subject matter.

That being said, I really do not have any concerns about this project. While Fallen Dreamer certainly has a level of abreaction (a severed head tends to be a bit unrealistic), I can appreciate and understand the arguments being made. It will still be a growing experience, since I have never analyzed a sculpture. However, after writing projects one and two I feel I can do a good job analyzing Fallen Dreamer.