Senior Thesis

I just turned in my proposal for my Senior Thesis and having never done anything like this I am nervious about how I did. Therefore I am going to use this as a sounding board. My senior seminar class this semester is emphasized on Dutch Genre Paintings in the 17th century. I am focusing my thesis on a serious of paintings from this time in which a number of artists have painted images of paintings within their own paintings. Many historians have researched and theorized about the meaning of these paintings and the reasons for these Dutch artists to include them in their works. While I agree that some of these paintings-within-paintings present some interesting theories to explaining what the overall painting's meaning may be I don't think that all of them were meant to be intrepretted. Some historians take their theories and interpretations to far. Perhaps they were just paintings on the walls of these Dutch artist's world. It's like the wall labels in a museum that explain the meaning of an artwork that you are veiwing. While some may be a good intrepretation of the piece, sometimes it's worth ignoring the museums point of view so that you can enjoy the work for your self and make your own theories. My favorite example of this is a work by Johannes Vermeer: A woman holding a balance 1662. The painting behind this woman is of the Last Judgement, this has created theories that Vermeer meant for this piece to have a religious meaning as if the woman is weighing the ideals between good and bad.

So what do you think? Does any of this make sense? Clearly I still have a lot of research to do as I work out my arguement and try to bring in the arguements of others, but I think I have a basis for a good thesis. Even if you don't know much about Art history I would appreciate your thoughts, questions, or critique. Thanks all.

Pictures worth a 1000 words

England

Roman Gate, Germany

Calai, France

Eifle Tower, France

Arch of Triump, France

Dover Castle, England


Luxenburg

Saint Chapelle, France

Holland

Brugge, Belgium

Notre Dame,

France

Louvre, France

Paris, France

Oh, how I love Paris!

And this isn't even the half of what I saw!

God's opened window for Me

Lately I have been feeling depressed about my state of life . . . what else is new . . . as I saw door after door of life opportunities being slammed shut on me. I saw others around me, naming no names, who I saw soar with their lives as God opened different doors of opportunity for them, and I started to wonder when was it my turn for happiness. Only you know that saying that when God closes a door somewhere he opens a window, well it's true! You'd think I'd have learned that from my "troubles come in three" situation but I didn't. I have been holding on to the sting and the hurt of slammed door on a life of love that my experience with Aaron caused me for so long that I didn't see the windows that this brought to my life. Instead I felt myself suffocating in a room with all closed doors as I impatiently waited for God to open my window. But now I understand. I may still not be 100% happy with my single status but at least now I can see the blessings that I may have because of it.
Before Aaron I had dreams to go to Europe, to see and experience the art that I was studying and learning about, but because of my dream to have a family I put that dream on the back burner. When the door was slammed to get married I felt like it was the end of my dreams but now that I am going to France for two weeks I understand that by slamming one door, which wasn't the right door at that time anyway, God has opened the window to a life dream of mine. I don't mean to be so metaphorical but the point is that just when I was feeling at my wits end in frustration and depression with the way I saw my life not going (no future family or career) and the lack of the things I want more than anything, God knowing my pain and loneliness gives me a blessing to help me breathe and feel of importance again. It's just a wonder that He is so patient and forgiving to His the very impatient and frustrated daughter that I am as I wait for His timing and plan in opening life's doors of opportunity for me.

Troubles come in threes

I have had the must crazy five weeks in my life and it all involves my stink'n car. It started New Years Eve, I was in California with my family and my car was safely parked at my apartment . . . so I thought. However someone backup into my car and put a huge dent in my fender making it impossible to open my passenger door. No biggy the girl that hit me was really nice and responsible about it, but that's just the first trouble. Then about a week later I parked at my apartment building for 10 minutes before leaving to go see my sister after her surgery but when I went back outside to leave my car was gone. My car got towed!!! That's number 2. Then this last Friday I was at work all day and when I got off at 6:40pm and went to my car I realized that someone had bashed in my passenger side window and had stolen my radio. That's freakin number 3!!! I am so sick of all these troubles with my car. It's cost me too much money and will cost me more after number 3, and without a window or the ability to turn on the heat (they took the whole piece of dashboard that my radio was in) I am freezing in this weather. I know that when it rains it pours but come on enough is enough right?! But I do have to say that through all of this not everything has been bad, the Lord blessed me with a good attitude throughout. I'm still too blessed to be stressed and the Lord sees my struggles and trials and He is compensating by blessing my in other parts of my life . . . like my love life . . . to be continued.