Final blog post: What is that art?

After reading the last chapters in Barrett (6) and Fineberg (16), take any work of art from either text or our recent presentations and answer the question, "why is that art?" This is your last entry for the visual journal project. 

Is it possible to value art both culturally and monetarily, or are these values in conflict with one another? Due Monday Nov 19

Artists Presentations on November 12th

In thinking about the work we saw today by artists Kara Walker, Yinka Shonibare, Vija Celmins, Cao Fei and Mark Dion, explain how their works speak to concepts like truth, rejuvenation, globalization and identity? Wy do you think these are issues in which contemporary artists are so interested? 

Postmodern Plurality: Rothenberg, McCollum, Barney

Postmodern Plurality: Rothenberg, McCollum, Barney
1) After looking into their work further, how would you characterize the ways in which these artists think about the creative process and the production of work?
2) What are these artists concerned about communicating through their work?
3) Can you find any commonalities amongst these artists, even in a general way?

Nochlin and Fineberg response

Use Nochlin's claims about the limitations on women as a touchstone as you discuss the work of the artists we looked at today (Christo and Jeane-Claude, Bearden, Spero, Chicago, Mendieta)  How did these artists seem to
1) push against their limitations or prescribed social roles?
2) challenge the viewer to see life from their perspective?
3) use their identities to create an authentic experience with the viewer?
4) think about their role within the broader community?
Due Wednesday, November 7th

Processing our process

During our discussion today about the contemporary Haitian art on display at Crealde, we mainly focused on discovering what connections there might be between Haitian culture and religious practice, and the objects we found in front of us. We did not discuss the artists as individuals with different things to say, rather we painted their intentions with a broad brush. Why do you think this was a natural first step for our group in engaging with this work and what would be the next logical step in trying to gain a better understanding of the work in the exhibition?

Postcolonialism

Why is the postcolonial perspective so important to contemporary art and how does this group of theories fit in with the rest of postmodern theory? How does the work of Kimsooja and El Anatsui seem supported by postcolonialism? 

Ai Weiwei and Altmejd

How does the work of these artists fit into Danto's notions about post-historical art? What was your reaction to their work? 

Guarded View, Wilson and Danto

How does Fred Wilson's piece "Guarded View" (check your email for a reading about this work and others) critique both the museum as an institution and the museum goers behavior? And how does this piece fit into Arthur Danto's discussion about the end of the history of modernism?
Due Wednesday, October 17th 

Postsructuralists on Parade

In the "loose association of thinkers" known as poststructuralists, which theorists challenged the Modernist notion of originality and artistic genius? How does Cindy Sherman's work become part of this challenge to one of the tenets of Modern art? Due Monday, October 15th

Martin and Goldsworthy: Time, Place and Touch

Reflect on the ways in which works by Andy Goldsworthy and Agnes Martin challenge the viewer to think about the passing of time, the external world around us, and the sensitivity of touch that for which these artists are known.
Due Wednesday, October 10th

What are the advantages and disadvantages of viewing the world aesthetically? Due Wednesday, October 3

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?

Of the three writers we discussed today, which of their views on interpretation seemed most aligned with your own?

Post your response for Wed. sept 5th.

David Hume discussion questions

In place of our class discussion today, review the reading on Hume's essay "Standard of Taste" and answer each of these questions. Read other students' responsives and build your ideas in responseto your classmates'.
On Wednesday, we will discuss your answers in class along with Barrett's chapter on Interpretation. Please read Susan Sontag for Wednesday as well.

DAVID HUME, “OF THE STANDARD OF TASTE” BY MARY MOTHERSILL.

IN HUME’S VIEW, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JUDGEMENT AND SENTIMENT?

WHAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM WITH HUME’S ARGUMENT ABOUT THE STANDARD OF TASTE AS DESCRIBED BY MOTHERSILL (THE AUTHOR) ON PG. 430?

3. WHAT DOES HUME CONTRIBUTE TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BEAUTY?

WHAT PROBLEM DOES THIS CAUSE FOR VIEWERS OF DIFFICULT CONTEMPORARY ART?

IN HUME’S VIEW, WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF A CRITIC?

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD CRITIC ACCORDING TO HUME?

HOW DOES HUME USE THE CRITIC TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF FINDING A SHARED STANDARD OF TASTE? DO YOU THINK THIS IS A GOOD SOLUTION?

What is art? Interpretation Makes Meaning

1) As we did today in class, make a list of your own personal criteria for determining that something is a "good" work of art.

2) Now imagine the list of criteria that a professional art critic must carry around in his or her head. What are the differences?

3) What does this statement from the next Barrett reading mean to you?  "To interpret a work of art is to make it meaningful."

This blog response should take shape within 150 words and will be the starting point for your first visual journal entry (2 pages). It is due at the start of class Monday, August 27th. 

What is art?

After reading what Barrett has to say about the definition of art, can you come up with a working definition of your own based on your experiences with art?
Due Wednesday, August 22, 2012