Journal #2

The piece of art work that I connected with at the Palmer Museum was the "Dance of Death". Eleanor Antin, the artist, created this piece in the year 2007. The materials that she use for the piece were red ink on a thin piece of beige paper. Digital Printing was used in this creation as well. In the picture you will see nine different skeletons wearing little to no clothing. They all are dancing in rows and columns of three. Each skeleton represents Death or the "Grim Reaper". The first "Grim Reaper" is playing a waist drum. The second "Grim Reaper" is carrying a flat tray around it's neck. The third skeleton is ringing a bell in one hand while holding a hourglass in another. The fourth is a skeleton pouring some type of liquid in a small bowl. The fifth skeleton is running away with a young infant. The sixth skeleton is wearing a pirate hat and holding a scythe. The seventh skeleton is wearing tunic and playing the flute pipe. The eighth skeleton is holding a spear in a charging position. The ninth skeleton is wearing a shirt with shorts and holding a coffin on it's left shoulder with R.I.P written on the front of the coffin.

The rhetorical situation of this piece is that death is inevitable;there is no life without death. The skeletons in this picture look as if they come from the medieval time period. The culture of the skeletons resemble Roman and Greek life. The piece seems like its in conversation with that moment because Roman and Greek life during medieval time included plenty of celebrating. The social comment that it makes would be that all social classes during this time enjoyed similar entertainment.

The piece works on my emotions by giving me a sense of freedom. It makes me feel that I should take advantage of the opportunities that life offers. This is because when death comes for me I don't want to have any regrets about anything. It connects to my values because I feel that people should always do what makes them happy unless what makes the happy is illegal.

"The piece creates credibility because the Eleanor Antin is influenced by conceptual art (Meeker, 2011). Eleanor Antin has also written books, essays, and articles (Meeker, 2011).

The claim that Antin has made is that life should be exciting because death isn't. Another claim that is is making is that death balances life. I believe that this claim is persuasive.

My overall experience at the Palmer Museum was new and different. This is because I don't normally visit museums for entertainment. It was my first time at the Palmer Museum. I can imagine going back because I enjoyed the art work that was on display. I have recommended other students to visit the museum because it would be a opportunity that could expose people to new aspects of life and culture.

Meeker, Carlene. "Eleanor Antin." Jewish Women's Archive. Web. 05 Sept. 2011.