DIY homework assignment: humanities 303
Assignment: Create a visual artistic piece. It should display a person who you would consider to be “ruined.” Any medium is allowable. Submit to your blog then analyze the piece with regards to this class, and previous homeworks, assignments, and projects.
The piece I created shows Death hanging over a girl, who is about to commit suicide. I feel that there can hardly be a more ruined state then being on the edge of suicide. This piece took me a lot of time, and I really tried to emphasize the contrast between the light and dark here. The light skin tone of the girl with the darkness of the Reaper. Some of the most important things about this piece lie in the details. For instance the blood soaked bandages on the girls arm and leg, showing that this isn’t the first time she has tried to end her life. Another important detail is the hour glass that the Reaper is wearing on his belt. Almost all of the sand has run out of the glass, and yet there is still more there, so mayhaps today is not the day she dies.
I feel that this assignment was beneficial for several reasons. In the short term it allows for reflection about death and suicide, and the kind of ruined state someone must be in to find solace in this final extreme option. In the long term, I am hoping that for the next large essay I will be able to use this picture or this idea, to help define my view on Victorian era ruin.
The piece I created for this assignment.
