The Psychology of Art

Today's theme was obviously art. The Prado museum was incredibly enriching. I learned a ton about expression and about myself while exploring the millions of rooms. I love art, but I have never had such an eye-opening experience with it before. I learned quite a bit a bout the significance of little details in a painting. These masterpieces were full of beautiful metaphors and hidden symbols. My favorite piece was entitled "Descent from the Cross" by Weyden. I'm not sure I could really explain why it moved me the way that it did. The work had so much obvious technique and emotion put into into it, that I probably spent fifteen minutes just staring at it. I was awed by the way the artist played with the lighting and the skin texture. Mary was portrayed passed out next to Christ, who was being liften from the cross. But even if I did not understand the background story, I could see the differences in skin tone of someone who had lost consciousness as opposed to someone who had died. It was quite a feat, I thought. My other favorite piece was the veiled queen statue. It was incredible the way the artist was able to make stone looke see through! I can see why these pieces of art are adored and so cautiously perserved. It's a built-in frontal lobe thing that humans alone have. We seem to have a drive to create new and interesting things. It's manifested in different ways and mediums (construction, art, music), but every culture has some form of art they treasure.

The Botanical Gardens were quite beautiful as well. It's been very apparent to me that flowers are a integral part of Spain's culture. The gardens were huge and very pretty with so many different kinds of plants in full bloom. It was wonderful to see so many elderly people enjoying the weather by strolling through the park with their spouses. I have noticed more of an emphasis on the family in this country. There seems to be more traditional families walking together. I noticed while we were out to lunch today that there was a lot of involvement of the father with the children. I get the sense in the United States that it "it isn't a man's job to raise the children". It appears that this country is conservative in this way compared to the States.
The festival tonight involved a firework show that I had the chance to attend. I thought it was spectacular! The show itself was comparable to Disneyland's. The music was great and the atmosphere was invigorating. The more time I spend in this beautiful country, the more I come to realize that people everywhere share more commonalities than differences. People are people. They all have the same basic desires and needs, they are just met in unique ways. I am so grateful to be experiencing life through Spain's eyes.