In your last blog entry, reflect on the ways in which this course has changed or expanded your view of contemporary art.

Use one of the artists from today's presentations to explore the notion that art has value to the society in which it is created. What is this value?

Thinking back to the artists we learned about in the last round of presentations- what seems to be a common goal for all of them regarding their art practice?
Is this common to all contemporary artists?
Due Monday November 28th.

Reflect on how each of the three artists from Wednesday's presentations use specific materials to express their conceptual ideas. Due Monday November 21st.

What observations can you make about the contemporary art market based on "Exit Through the Gift Shop"? Do you think graffiti art is am important form of art? Why or why not? Do you think it will be as valued as it is right now in another 50 years?

Discuss one artist from Fineberg Chapters 14 and 15 apply at least one theory (by a specific writer) from the Barrett text to a piece of their work. Due Monday November 14th.

Rebel Yell: The Wild Seventies

Art is particularly well-suited for expressing rebellious notions. Which of the artists from today's presentations seem to use their work to rebel against something/someone/some time period and what/who/when are they rebelling against?
Due Wednesday, November 9th at 12 noon. Sharp! 

The Safety Valve

Use an artwork or two from the Fineburg text as examples in your response to this quote from artist Daniel Buren: "Art is the safety valve of our repressive systems. As long as it exists, and, better yet, the more prevalent it becomes, art will be the system's distracting mask. And a system has nothing to fear as long as its reality is masked, as long as its contradictions are hidden." 

Due Monday, November 7th

Given all the political and social unrest in the 60's, it seems logical that art would go through a transformation, too. What clear connections do you see between some of the demonstrations, riots and youth movements particularly from '68 and the trends in contemporary art of that time?

Feminist Theory as Postmodern Theory

How does feminist theory connect to the other postmodern theories discussed in Barrett's last chapter (i.e. postcolonialism, poststructuralism, etc.) ? Use Nochlin's piece as your source for feminist theory in your answer.

Due Monday, October 31st at 12 noon. 

Expand on your assigned discussion question from today's class through an interpretation of one of Doris Saledo's or Carrie Mae Weems' works. Due Wednesday, October 26th by 12 noon.

Discuss two works of art, one that fits any definition of Modernism and another that you can interpret through any of the theories from the chapter on postmodernism (Barrett). Describe how these works fit these theories and provide links to images. Due Monday, October 24th.

Unraveling Danto

Think again about the work we saw at OMA today and consider the paragraph in Chapter One of Danto's "The End of Art" which begins halfway down on page 13. It starts, "The sixties was a paroxysm of styles..." and ends with "You had, in brief, to turn to philosophy."

1. Can you think of any of the objects in OMA that could be used as an example of what art is? Could it be the ONLY example? Why or why not?

2. If postmodernism means that you cannot teach the meaning of art by example, as Danto claims, how do you teach it? By what means?

We will share our answers in class on Monday. Please complete two journal pages on this post.

Diana Folsom Class Visit

What engaged your attention/imagination most actively during Diana Folsom's class visit last week? Was it the mention of "California Flow Painting," or Jorge Pardo's gallery designs for LACMA? Were you intrigued by the intersection of Formalism and Expressionism in Ms. Folsom's work? Or was it the feedback she gave you on your visual journal that was most engaging?

This blog post is due Wednesday, October 12th by noon. Journal entry for this post will be reviewed on November 2nd.

Andy Goldsworthy: Formalist?

Why might it be helpful to view Andy Goldworthy's work through Formalist theory and what might be the disadvantages of doing so?  You may want to research his work a bit further before answering.

Your response is due Wednesday, October 5th at 12 noon along with two journal pages. Also, please remember to bring questions for Diana Folsom to our Wednesday meeting with her.

Under the Modernist Umbrella: Greenberg as Influential critic

As an art critic and theorist, Clement Greenberg heavily influenced Abstract Expressionist painting. How do you feel about his influence and can you think of people or movements that influence contemporary art and design today?

This blog post is being published late. It is due by Friday, October 7th along with two journal pages.

Art Review

Please post your art review comments here no later than Friday, September 30th. This can be a response to a review from www.artreview.com or any review of Leigh-Ann Pahapill's work from another website.

Leigh-Ann Pahapill: Expressionist?

Consider Collingwood's theory that the REAL art work is that which is created in the viewer's consciousness as she or he interacts with the physical objects that represent art. Apply this theory to Leigh-Ann's work and consider whether or not it fits with her stated intentions for the viewer.

Due Monday, September 26th at 12 noon along with two pages on this question in your visual journals.

Expressionism and Cognitivism

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? 

CFAM Visit

During our visit to CFAM, we tried to focus our attention on the art as well as on our behaviors and preferences as viewers. What did you learn about the art on display and what did you learn about yourself as a viewer during this visit?


Due Monday, September 19th at 12 noon.

Aristotle vs. Plato

Explain how Aristotle's ideas differ from Plato's in terms of his views towards artists, art and individual expression. Do you see Aristotle's legacy in the way we think about art today?

Due Wednesday, September 14th at 12 noon.

Dangerous Realism

Find some art works that illustrate the two sides of Plato's argument that freedom of individual artistic expression should not be allowed. Which images seem to "invite" censorship in your opinion? Which images are works of art that, if censored, would represent a great loss to our society? Why?

Due Monday, September 12th at 12 noon.

Realism

Find an ART 21 artist whose work fits your definition of "Realism" and say why their work fits this theory. What would Plato and Aristotle have to say about this artist's work?


Due Wednesday, September 7th at 12 noon. 

Art Review!

Find an art review in the New York Times and respond to the reviewer's tone, intentions, and "grade" for the art she is reviewing. After looking up the work or artist for yourself, do you agree with the reviewer? Why or why not?
Due Thursday September 1st by 12 noon.

Interpreting Art

Do you agree with Barrett's principles of interpretation? Why or why not? How do these principles seek to give viewers a more enriching experience with art?
Due Monday aug 29th at 12 noon.

What is Art?

After reading what Barrett has to say about the definition of art, write down your thoughts about it. What is art?
Due Wednesday, August 24th