Thinking about Klimt

Tags

art, films, klimt

This clip is a scene from the film “Dying Young” where a slideshow is shown of the works of Gustav Klimt and Dante Gabriel Rosetti. It’s not the clearest quality, but still beautiful.

This scene reminded me of how much I love Gustav Klimt. I’ve been thinking about his paintings a lot lately. My favorite used to be “The Kiss”, which I think is his most famous piece.
(http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/gustav-klimt/the-kiss-1908)

For now, I think my favorite of his paintings is “Adam and Eve”. (http://www.wmofa.com/artists/Klimt,_Gustav/image/Adam_and_Eve_-_unfinished_1917-1918.jpg.html&img=&tt=)

I love the look on his face. I could stare at him for hours. There is just such a quiet about this painting.

He created so many absolutely beautiful paintings.

I read a children’s book about him at the library the other day, and it described Klimt as being a champion. A soldier fighting for happiness. Battling sickness, greed, and unhappiness in the world with art. About how art, poetry, and music can change the world we live in, for the better. I like that idea. I’d like to believe that it’s possible, and sometimes, looking at art, or reading poetry, or listening to a powerful piece of music, I really do believe it’s true.

Moods

Tags

academia, fiction, films, humanism, intellectualism, mood driven, writing

Are you mood driven? I am. Sometimes I feel as though I have to get just the right color palette together, just the right textures, just the right music or else the day will go horribly wrong. If I don’t feel right, the day won’t go right. 

Tonight, I needed familiar films playing, ones I had seen before, so I didn’t have to pay attention if I got involved in a project, and ones that would set the right tone. They both turned out to be literary and had subtle, sort of indie soundtracks. The first was “Stranger Than Fiction”. 

I love this movie more and more every time I see it. I love all the character nuances and the earnestness of the protagonist. I love the idea that he is a walking idea, an embodiment of someone’s imaginings, and that he takes on a life of his own only after realizing that; and that is when he really begins to live and impact the world around him. The film is sweet, intelligent, and ironic. This is one of my favorite scenes:

I love all the discussion of literary themes, and the ultimate emphasis on the importance of fiction in life. 

The second movie I watched tonight was “Wonder Boys”. 

Quirky, moody, and academic. I just wanted to haunt some of those places, eavesdropping on literary conversations and intellectual blather. I miss being on a college campus. I have become quite fond of this film. 

I suppose both choices were about different kinds of awakening. Finding out what you really want out of your life, letting go of who you were, and what you thought you understood, and forging a new path. 

If you haven’t seen one or either of these, do so. You may not appreciate them the way I do, but they should be seen.