The Curse of the Mona Lisa

In this movie we have met a very cynical man who seems to dislike the way art is portrayed in today's society. He feels that the bringing of the Mona Lisa to the United States was a major mistake as it would commercialize the amazing work of art. In a sense it did commercialize it but on the other hand isn't it a good thing that some random person on the street can identify one piece of art and it's artist. People did just quickly pass the Mona Lisa when they came to see it but how many people could have actually stood there to see it? Those who did would have been pushed, yelled at, sworn at, or who knows what else. And yes, some of those came just to say that they had seen it but isn't that what part of what tourism is? You go to the Statue of Liberty to say you have seen it, or the Eiffel Tower, or the Sydney Opera House, and yes there are many of those who go to see it to experience something more but in essence we all like to brag a little about where we have been. So is it ok to put a painting, however great it may be, above a famous landmark? And so what if they just went to see it to say that they had? At least they went to see it, they have some sense of culture. He is far to cynical of everyday people. Many of those who went to see had jobs, children, or various other commitments and did not have to luxury of staring and analyzing the Mona Lisa all day.

    As for the another part of class, children's museums and how art today is interactive was mentioned. This automatically brought to mind a museum in Rochester called Strong National Museum of Play. This museum includes a variety of opportunities for children to learn. There is a butterfly atrium, a section that is set up like the local grocery store, Wegman's, so that children can learn. There is also a section that is displayed as if it were Sesame Street, a section where the kids can dress up and "act" to whatever they want, a "weather channel"  station, a science section, a toy section which includes dolls that can date back to 1890. Though these may not be looked upon as arts, they are. Why else would we say the arts of science or why would people have spent several hours if not days carving, painting, and dressing these dolls? These children's museums may not be traditional, they are pretty much anything but, but they are still very important to society in that they teach children through hands on actions and in a fun and memorable way.
Posted by Sarah