Modern Art

1) Reflect on the reasons behind the public's reaction to Modern Art when it first emerged as a trend in the 1940's in the United States.

2) Why do you think modern artists felt compelled to create a new form of visual language?

Due Monday, October 1st

Compare the theories of realism and expressionism using works that you feel are supported by one or the other.

Expressive Art

Choose a piece from the new CFAM show to interpret using elements of our discussion about Collingwood's expressive theory of art. Due Monday September 24th. 

Expressionism

Choose an artwork by one of today's artists and answer the following:

1) What elements in this work read as symbols for some larger idea? And what do you believe they symbolize? 


2) What are the main ideas expressed in the piece? Does knowing about the artist’s intentions help in your analysis or do you prefer not to know what they intended to communicate?



3) How does the artist’s overall aesthetic approach affect the way you interpret the content of this piece? You can answer this question by asking, “What if this piece were made another way, in another medium? How would that change my interpretation of it?”



4) Using cognitive theory, what can you say you learned (if anything) from this art work? 

OMA visit

Your blog response for Monday should be based on your interpretation of the work you looked at during our visit to OMA. Use the handout questions as your guide. 

Herring and Serrano: Form and Content

As Lucy Lippard expressed, there are many qualities of "Piss Christ" which seem beautiful or appealing to many. Do you think Serrano uses beauty as a way to engage the viewer in a discussion about difficult content? How does this compare with the way Oliver Herring connects form and content in his work?

Due Wednesday, September 12th. 

Realism

Spend a bit more time researching Sally Mann's work and reflect on why she choose photography as a medium when "reality" is something she intends to represent in a very subjective way. How does her use of this medium expand your understanding of Realism?