Art and the Artist

Karen Li, Victoria Louison, Noriyo Onishi, and Hanna Morales

Aim: How is Stephen Dedalus’s development as an artist a reflection of James Joyce’s own development?

Do Now: In the title A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, who is the artist Joyce is referring to? Explain.

What does it mean to be an “Artist”?

Definition: a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria; a person who practices one of the fine arts, especially a painter or sculptor; a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.

-Dictionary Reference

The Artist

Impressionism

Title: “The Path through the Forest”Artist: Pierre-Auguste Renoir- Impressionists wanted to capture a moment in

time

-Stephen is uncertain, entering a world unknown to him, like one stepping into the forest for the first time in his or her life. -In the beginning, Stephen could not grasp the meaning of the discussions the adults had around him. He could not focus his mind on a specific target. -Stream of Consciousness (James Joyce) p. 17 (He is commenting on the paintings around the school hall and suddenly begins to speak about the holidays and vacation)-When we look closely at impressionist paintings, we do not understand what is happening. However, when we look at them from a distance, we are able to understand them. -An overview of chapter one is more understandable than a close reading of it.

Parnell

-Politics and mental growth p. 73 (“He saw himself sitting at the table…trying to write a poem about Parnell…but his brain then refused to grapple with the theme”)

-Et Tu, Healy (James Joyce)

My cot alas that dear old shady homeWhere oft in youthful sport I playedUpon thy verdant grassy fields all dayOr lingered for a moment in thy bosom shade...

Age 9

Religion, Rebellion, and a First glace at Beauty

Title: Ecstasy of Saint Theresa

Artist: Gian Lorenzo Bernini

Title: The Last JudgmentArtist: Fra Angelico

-Stephen was extremely religious all throughout his childhood. His life was shaped by Roman Catholicism.

-At the age of 16, however, he begins to look for prostitutes p. 109 (“[As] he prowled in quest of that call, his senses, stultified only by his desire, would note keenly all that wounded or shamed them”) p. 110: “At his first violent sin he had felt a wave of vitality pass out of him and he feared to find his body and soul maimed by the excess…but a dark peace had been established between them.”

. There is conflict within himself about whether to continue with this or let go.

-1898 (James Joyce)

-Hell: pain of loss, pain of conscience, pain of extension, pain of intensity, eternity

-He tries to purify his body and soul p. 153 (“He bowed his had upon his hands, bidding his heart be meek and humble”).

The Aesthetic Movement

- “Art for art’s sake”- Decadence- Stephen is ashamed yet eager to have new experiences. He doesn’t avoid the

prostitutes and is in a way indulging (“Life for life’s sake”).- James Joyce (judgment and dramatic writing)

Nora Barnacle

Renaissance

Title: Rebirth Artist: Slawek Gruca

-As a child, Stephen is manipulated by religious authorities and scared of going to hell. -The interaction between him and his classmates/friends becomes increasing political with time. We slowly see a more liberal Stephen, one not oppressed by his religion nor influenced by his family. -He expresses himself as an European rather than an Irish. He refuses to go along with the nationalist crowd who wishes that he sign the petition for universal peace p. 204, 218, 220- He is becoming more independent-He desires to "fly" or escape from Ireland p. 220 (“When the soul of a man is born in this country there are nets flying at it to hold it back from flight. You talk to me of nationality, language, religion. I shall try to fly by those nets”)-p. 192 (“His own head was unbent for his thoughts wandered abroad…an odour assailed him of cheerless cellardamp and decay”)-> odour (James Joyce)-This concept of flight comes from Greek mythology (Daedalus and Icarus)

-James Joyce had studied Italian, English and French atthe University College of Dublin. He taught himself Norwegian to be able to read Henrik Ibsen’s work in its original language (more universal)-1903 Paris (James Joyce’s flight from Ireland)-Italy, Switzerland, Austria-Hungary

What is the meaning behind this image?

Static ArtTitle: How King Arthur Saw the Quest BeastArtist: Aubrey Vincent Beardsley-Part of the 20th Century aesthetic movement

p. 224:“Art… is the human disposition of sensible or intelligible matter for an esthetic end.” p. 223 “Beauty… cannot awaken in us an emotion which is kinetic or a sensation which is purely physical.”-> Beauty is meant to be appreciated for its aesthetic presence , nothing else

-Integritas (wholeness), consonantia (harmony), claritas (radiance), quidditas p.230-231 -> Aquinas -Dante, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas (James Joyce)

Abstract Expressionism

Title: “One” Artist: Jackson Pollock- Emphasizes spontaneous expression → developing without external constraint - Referred to as “action painting”

Towards the end… - He desires to becomes a self-made person who creates his own art p. 184 (“His soul had arisen from the grave of boyhood…He would create proudly out of the freedom and power of his soul, as the great artificer whose name he bore, a living thing, new and soaring and beautiful, impalpable, imperishable”)-Point of view changes from third person to first person p.220 (“This race and this country and this life produced me… I shall express myself as I am”)-Lyrical form, epical form, dramatic form (p.232)-The dramatic form p.233 (“The artist, like the God of the creation, remains within or behind or beyond or above his handiwork, invisible, refined out of existence, indifferent, paring his fingernails”) (James Joyce) -> from specific to general-p.276 (“Old father, old artificer, stand me now and ever in good stead”)

Quotations: He is commenting on the paintings around the school halls p.17: “They were the ghosts if murderers, the figures of marshals who had received their death wound on battlefields…Going home for the holidays! That would be lovely.” p.73: “He saw himself sitting at the table…trying to write a poem about Parnell…but his brain then refused to grapple with the theme.” He is describing his experience with prostitutes as he looks for one through the streets p.109: “[As] he prowled in quest of that call, his senses, stultified only by his desire, would note keenly all that wounded or shamed them.” p.110: “At his first violent sin he had felt a wave of vitality pass out of him and he feared to find his body and soul maimed by the excess…but a dark peace had been established between them.” p. 153 (“He bowed his had upon his hands, bidding his heart be meek and humble”). p.204: “It is called a tundish in Lower Drumcondra, said Stephen laughing, where they speak the best English.” Stephen holds a conversation with Davin about nationalism. This is what Davin says to Stephen p.220: “But a man’s country comes first. Ireland first, Stevie. You can be a poet or a mystic later.” p.220: “When the soul of a man is born in this country there are nets flying at it to hold it back from flight. You talk to me of nationality, language, religion. I shall try to fly by those nets.” p.192: “His own head was unbent for his thoughts wandered abroad…an odour assailed him of cheerless cellardamp and decay.”  p.224: “Art… is the human disposition of sensible or intelligible matter for an esthetic end.” p.223: “Beauty… cannot awaken in us an emotion which is kinetic or a sensation which is purely physical.” Towards the end of chapter 4, the author says p.184: “His soul had arisen from the grave of boyhood…He would create proudly out of the freedom and power of his soul, as the great artificer whose name he bore, a living thing, new and soaring and beautiful, impalpable, imperishable.”  p.220: “This race and this country and this life produced me… I shall express myself as I am.” p.233: “The artist, like the God of the creation, remains within or behind or beyond or above his handiwork, invisible, refined out of existence, indifferent, paring his fingernails.” p.276: “Old father, old artificer, stand me now and ever in good stead.”

Conclusion• Stephen Dedalus’s transition into a mature young artist can be seen a

reflection of James Joyce’s own development. Many aspects of Stephen’s childhood are similar to Joyce’s life when he was a child. They share the same ideas about religion and have the same attitude towards their relationships. The novel itself could also be seen as a work of art that reflects the life of James Joyce. By creating a character with a personality and life so similar to his own, James Joyce begins the novel with a type of dissociated, child-like discussion which captures small moments of his childhood, eventually capturing that whole stage of his life. They make up an impressionist work of art. As Stephen grows older, he has a wavering relationship with the church and develops a new outlook towards life. This part of the novel reflects religious and renaissance artwork centering around the purification of the soul, judgment day, and the different stages of hell. It is then followed by Stephen’s rebirth. At this point, he has officially decided to turn away from the church and pursue his artist dreams in solitude. This last part of the book displays static art and abstract expressionism. In other words, his love for art because of the mere fact that it is art and his decision to go one specific way because that’s just what his heart tells him. James Joyce, like Stephen, chooses to defy societal norms and express himself freely and spontaneously with his controversial writing.