Alonto, Ahmad Sharief D.

August 30, 2019

ENG41

REFLECTION PAPER #3

Based on the handouts, I’ve known various artists. Lucas Cranach who is a master of German
Renaissance. Bendor Grosvenor who is an art historian. Andrea Mantegna whose painting was
sold for 10.4 million dollars in 1985. Orazio Gentilesch, a 16th century artist, whose painting was
displayed in London National Gallery. James Martin, best forensic art detective in the world of art,
who has loaned his forensic skills to the FBI for many art forgery investigations.
I’ve learned that there are also major crimes committed in world of art such as the case of forgery
in the winter of 2015. Forgery refers to white-collar crime that generally refers to the false making
or material alteration of a legal instrument with the specific intent to defraud anyone (other than
himself or herself) and the action of producing a copy of a work of art.
There are many artists who commits forgery or fake paintings. However, these painters are good
technically but they are not good in doing creative ideas compared to other painters. James Martin
who proclaimed himself as “art forgers” said that he was good technically but didn’t have his own
creative way of doing things. Moreover, many paintings have been sold for about million euros
but was later on found to be fake. One of this painting is the work of Frans Hals, the portrait of a
Gentleman that was sold for 8.5 million euros but was later declared fake.
Crimes are not only done in real world, it can also be done in the world of art. So, we have to be
careful if we are planning to buy art or paintings in the future because we might end up buying a
fake one. However,
Alonto, Ahmad Sharief D. September 2, 2019
ENG41

REFLECTION PAPER #4

One of the remarkable line in the movie is “What’s the point of art if no one sees it?” One can
feel her speaking to the audience, echoed by the platform’s suits because, without their reach,
there’s no way such a massive audience would ever see this bizarro genre-splicer.
The self-important Morf Vandewalt, an influential critic, arrives. Morf Vandewalt has fun as a
sexually fluid critic, questioning himself and his place in the art world although nowhere near as
much fun as Rhodora Haze, who tears into her monstrous role with a toxic tenacity, rampaging
through galleries and art parties with no remorse for anyone she tramples over.
There are many different battles being fought simultaneously throughout “Velvet Buzzsaw,”
between art dealers, artists and art critics, but also within those people’s own psyches. Gilroy
seems to have chosen his side earlier, portraying Gyllenhaal’s critic character as a pretentious
writer (at one point, he says he is “ensorcelled”), finding little to no joy in the media he analyzes,
but rather doing so to advance others’ craft. At the same time, the lavish spending of the
satirical art world portrayed in the movie inevitably removes authenticity from the very art it’s
peddling. The scene that plays over the end credits shows how the film perceives those who do
art for the sake of creation, a happier, peaceful existence veering toward serenity.
This, at its core, is really what film and, more broadly, art embody: creation for creation’s sake,
not for money, influence, power. But it’s nearly impossible not to question the movie’s altruism.
“Velvet Buzzsaw,” by the word’s definition, is art.