In a humanities class centered on the nineteenth century, it makes perfect sense that the class would be asked to look at and write about a number of different artworks. But when asked to create artwork on one’s own, the first question is, ‘why?’ Artists have points to their work, just as this assignment has a point. To better understand anything that is being learned about, one can add to their research with first-hand experience. How each group connects their approach to our class is different. Since our group chose literature, it seems important to pay a great deal of attention to wording.
When the word ‘picturesque’ is brought up, the idea that comes to mind is something that’s aesthetically pleasing. Dictionary.com defines it in a number of ways; the second definition seems most applicable to this group since we’ve chosen literature. “2. (of writing, speech, etc.) strikingly graphic or vivid; creating detailed mental images: a picturesque description of the Brazilian jungle.” From this, one can understand that a setting created in writing can be seen mentally and be equally picturesque to a setting that can be seen visually. The application of this definition of ‘picturesque’ means that as this course progresses, every student has a chance to be an artist for whatever work they do. That doesn’t mean that every writing a person does will be equally picturesque to the photographs, paintings, and literature discussed in class, but it does allow for potential.
For some people in the class, photography is familiar and easy. For some it’s painting or drawing or writing. The photo essay asks us to bridge the gap between photography and writing, and also to attempt to create or capture something picturesque. The novel, Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy, was published in 1985. It has a great number of scenes that could be considered picturesque by the previously mentioned definition from dictionary.com of “…strikingly graphic or vivid…” The following is an excerpt from page 54 of the novel: “Dust stanched the wet and naked heads of the scalped who with the fringe of hair below their wounds and tonsured to the bone now lay like maimed and naked monks in the bloodslaked dust and everywhere the dying groaned and gibbered and horses lay screaming”. This scene is picturesque. It is both graphic and vivid, but not beautiful—which is an important difference.
The term ‘picturesque’ is one we will visit often this semester. It’s important to note that it can be in any piece of work we look at, listen to, or read. It is a thing to aim for with this photo essay project. We can try to capture the same types of images as we see in class.
