GRAFFITI: ART OR VANDALISM?

Yesterday in class we were discussing graffiti. Perhaps it is something we are fed up with seeing at streets, but we had never had the opportunity to give an opinion knowing more about it.

Graffiti comes from the Italian word 'graffito'. It refers to writing or drawings written, scribbled or scratched on a wall. 

Its origins are in the late 60s in New York and they were started by political activists to get their messages across or by street gangs to mark their territory. Nowadays tags or signatures of graffiti artists are the most common. 

There are several and opposing opinions about grafitti. Some people believe that it is an expression meant for youngsters, whereas some others recognize that they make cities look dangerous, ugly or run-down. 

What do you feel about this? Maybe this video will help you to make up your mind. Or not...

In the following link you can see some of the awesome graffiti made by the artist Bansky. We talked about him in class and, to my mind, there are some outstanding creations.  There you go!

 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/106-coolest-banksy-graffiti-drawings

More about Bansky HERE.  

I have found some other videos related to this topic:
 

A PINCH OF HUMOUR

In today's class we have talked a bit about this book: How to be British.

It was very funny to listen to some of the scenes shown in it. Just to give you an idea, here is one of the hilarious situations.

If you are interested in knowing something else about this book, you can click on this link to find out more.

http://books.google.es/books/about/How_to_Be_British_Collection_2.html?id=Yl8WAAAACAAJ&redir_esc=y

I'm sorry for the shortness, but this week is being hard at school and the weekend is not going to be better. Among other things, we'll have to do our first reading test and the linking words homework.

JESUS!

I opened this new blog almost a week ago and how time flies!

We have a new teacher, Jackie, although she is familiar to me, since she was my teacher in 5th level two years ago.

Yesterday afternoon, we realized that we are going to work hard. We spoke a lot without noticing. At least, the first activity was a presentation and we talked to our mates in a friendly way.

But, what  I really enjoyed most was reading the Lord's Prayer in English! I had never done it before. It's something really curious.

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.

Amen.
 

There are other modern versions. If you want to know them, you can click HERE. 

 

We are talking about religion these days and it is very interesting to listening to different opinions and views. Although it is a controversial topic, everything is enriching and positive, always in a respectful manner.

Well, I only wanted to make my way here. Now it's time to do my homework...

Have a nice long weekend! 

MY PAINTING DESCRIPTION

This is the painting I have chosen. It is the first version Vincent Van Gogh made out of seven different paintings of the same topic, although some sources say it is the third one.

You can click on this link to find further information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunflowers_%28Van_Gogh_series%29#The_Arles_Sunflowers 

Here is the description I have written in order to describe the painting:

All the painting is light and colours. There is a special touch of yellow, gold, orange, green, ocher and different shades.

We can see that the painter has represented some wilt flowers against other fresh ones. This is appreciated in the strength and intesity of the colours used and the aspect itself.

The main and only topic is a big vase with twelve sunflowers. It is placed on a table, actually in the middle of it approximately.

The painter has employed the same colours to paint the flowers and the vase, whereas in the background there is a light blue wall.

There is not a great variety of colours and tonalities on the painting, which makes it as a whole and does not to emphasize anything specifically.

This is a painting that I really admire because of the topic, since I love this kind of flower. It conveys to me joy, vitality and optimism. I feel good when I observe this scene and that is the main reason why I have chosen it.