I studied Alan Watts, a British philosopher, for my first project. Watts' eloquence is what really drew my attention to him. His words drew my attention. Alan became well-known in the 1960s for introducing eastern beliefs and ideologies to western society. Many people still follow him now, and I wanted to share some of his teachings to everyone.
Contextualization
What is Contextualization? It's is showing how one thing can effect, or make an impact on many other things. Or giving the bigger idea on one subject. How did I use Contextualization? By dissecting his lectures and determining what they all meant, I was able to utilize contextualization. I also applied contextualization to show where his ideas came from and what led him to the wisdom he ultimately holds.
Self in the modern world
For Self in the Modern World portion of the project, I went through and discussed his prophecies and where they came from. I Also included some background on Watts and how he came to be so wise. I also used what he taught me to my own life. This was ideal for Self in the Modern World because his teachings encouraged my maturing intellect and journey into adulthood.
Art PORTION
symbolism
In most of my artwork I try to use symbolism to create expression or a story. This is how i used symbolism in this project. Behind the piece It may be difficult to identify the message of this painting at first glance, but that was the intention. The distinctive beliefs of British philosopher Alan Watts have been the inspiration for this piece. In the early 1960s, Watts introduced eastern ideologies such as Buddhism and zen to western civilization. Over the years, he has been regarded as an educator, and he is still recognized as the teacher of peace. His lectures and writings centered on mindfulness and self-awareness, which was a novel concept at the time. Alan's wisdom came from years of devoting himself to living a zen lifestyle and viewing himself and the world in a new light. Alan's significance stemmed from his impact on western civilisation, when he introduced unheard of beliefs to American society. His ideas were a blend of zen and buddhist prophecies. His words were also about self-reflection and realizing yourself and the world around you. Skeleton My first thought was to paint a portrait of Alan in the center of my painting, but the more I learned about him, the more I realized that it would be better to depict him as a skeleton instead of a famous face, which is why I chose to represent him as a skeleton to demonstrate that he is no different from me or you. The elements all around the skeleton in the painting remind the viewer that he is distinct. The flowers and plants signify his never-ending quest for national reconciliation. It demonstrates how his mind has blossomed into something extraordinary. His left eye The skeleton's left eye socket has a budding flower sprouting out of it, as seen in my piece. This represents Alan's belief that the left side of his brain was where he concentrated most of his creativity and worldview. The Galaxy “nonduality: everything is one, you are one with all in the Universe '' This remark, as well as many other teachings about how we are all one with the universe, is why I chose the planets to be built around him. Because I wanted to depict how we came from the earth, the planets aren't solid; they're all split in half with the skeleton in the midst. We weren't brought here, and we aren't strangers; we are part of this world's natural order. Clocks I chose this image of a melting clock to reflect one of Alan's notions regarding time being an illusion produced by man. This image, I thought, was an excellent portrayal of this concept. Colorful lines These aren't just lines; they're meant to represent and demonstrate energy that is manifesting and being delivered to the skeleton. Because it is sharing its energy with the rest of the world, it is also demonstrating energy leaving the skeleton. Hands “A hostel attitude of conquering nature ignores the basic interdependence of all things and events- that world beyond the skins is actually and extension of our own bodies- and will end in destroying the very environment from which we emerge and upon which our whole life depends” the hands represent connecting instead of conquering. Blue Eyes A graphic featured in alan watts personal belongings Brain This illustrates how the skeleton is letting go of all thought and control as it opens its consciousness to the universe. Inner serenity and tranquility have paralyzed him.
english portion
For my English portion of the project, I looked at quotes from Alan and presented several perspectives on his opinions at the time, how they would effect today's culture, and how I saw it. It's fascinating to compare my point of view to others', as well as to observe how much has changed since the 1960s.