[PDF] Cosmopolitanism in Mexican Visual Culture (Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Series in Latin American and Latino Art and Culture) by Mariacute;a Fernaacute;ndez in Arts-Photography

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Art appreciated!By JoAnn DLong story alert! Many years ago; a friend invited me to attend a series of art appreciation classes held at a beautiful Summit Hill home in St Paul. I thought I should go and expand my knowledge of art beyond the poker playing dogs hanging in my basement and he was paying. After a short happy hour; we arrived to our first class by bus. We were greeted on the steps by a snooty and snotty woman who looked like Frau Blucher (think Young Frankenstein). Noticing our jeans; arrival by bus and our beer breath; she sniffed the air with distain as she escorted us to the chairs in the far back. Frau was "teaching" the first class and she spoke with a monotone and at length about a Renaissance looking man with his hand held up. Apparently; this hand had great meaning and she asked everyone what they thought. My friend whispered to me that he thought the subject in the painting was preparing to flip Frau off. I suppressed a giggle only to snort loudly; twice. Everyone turned to look and Frau Blucher; after a long pause; sighed and gave us the stink eye. When she finished her class to rousing applause; we left hanging our heads in shame. We attended a couple more classes. No longer fueled by Budweiser; we still could not get into it. It was presented to us in a boring way and meant for those who already had an eye for art. Everyone else; including the homeowner; indicated they were available to answer questions and were very nice. But; I already had a bad attitude and became judgmental the moment I arrived because of one person. I decided I disliked art.I am smart enough but have an easily distracted mind. My friend was no dummy. He was an MD and a nerdy brainiac. My friend said he sat through too many boring lectures in college to deal with it now and I thought is this is how I felt when I tried to read Atlas Shrugged. Now to my point... No matter how interested I am in a subject; I get frustrated with a book that forces me to read a paragraph twice; is too wordy; or is meant for minds greater than mine. I am not a scholar; but I know my passion. I love history. I am not criticizing these types of books as I know it is just me and I am jealous of those who can appreciate them.On a recent trip to Gettysburg the Cyclorama was not a highlight. I thought it was pretty cool; but I did not understand it; I thought it was confusing and I have always thought Civil War art too dramatic and unreal to me. I like photos and maps. I already had a negative view about art.While reading info on another book; this book was shown as "also viewed." I thought "ick" I did not want to read a boring analysis of art; even if it was Gettysburg. I yawned thinking about it; but I kept going back to the reviews and I had just finished an outstanding book on Picketts Charge; so I thought what the heck.This book made me very happy. Not only did it click with my Adult Attention Deficit mind but I had a hard time putting it down.; staying up till wee hours to read it. The pictures were fabulous! The keys helped me understand. The story of how it came to be was fascinating. I found myself appreciating ART! How did this happen? I stared at the pictures and was amazed at how much detail there was. How did these authors figure all this out? I loved reading about the accuracies and the mistakes. This book had me mesmerized. I cant wait to get back to Gettysburg.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Evokes memoriesBy Seasoned investorOne item not mentioned is the Gettysburg cyclorama located on Pay Streak at the Alaska; Yukon; Pacific Expo in 1909. I have a postcard of the building housing the cyclorama at that time; the location today being on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle. My research has not disclosed what the cyclorama depicted inside and which one of the "buckeyes" (ie. knockoffs) was being displayed. There was also a painting of the Monitor and Merrimac battle. Otherwise; this volume is; by far; the most comprehensive rendition of the paintings history. As an aside; as a child; I recall seeing the painting on display at the old block building on Baltimore Street in Gettysburg. The cost: a quarter. The ranger at the entrance saw me counting all my nickels and pennies to go inside. He said: "Just go inside; son." Would that happen today???? All the significant points of interest in the painting were identified by numbered boards leaning against the bottom of the artwork. The person providing the narrative would simply refer to the numbers on the boards to describe what was being depicted. Contrast that to the the manner in which the painting is displayed today.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. ESSENTIAL to UNDERSTANDING THE US CIVIL WARBy R. BaconI bought a signed copy of this book while at the Gettysburg museum this past summer. The extra ones were gifts (3) so far. About once a month the historians involved in the restoration do a 2+ hour program AFTER HOURS (6pm-8pm) tour/class for the evening on all the details of the painting restoration process and the Cyclorama. The schedule is irregular; typically either a Friday or Saturday evening and limited to about 30 people. You can buy tickets ($20) ahead of time and the Foundation has the schedule; but perhaps the best part of our trip. If you do this and the bus tour; you will see how close we came to being separate countries. If two countries; the odd are high Germany would have won WWI about 50 years later. The bus tour; after hours tour and this book will correct 90% of what you learned in HS or college. Not sure it matters much which you do first.