Offenses to Images…..continued
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Presentation Transcript
Offenses to Images…..continued Destruction & Loss as Forms of Communication (“preserving what is valued” also may destruction & loss of what is NOT valued) Discussion of term assignments, handing out quizzes & short reports
Social Studies of the Rejection and Destruction of Artworks-- Moving beyond Vandalism and Iconoclasm to an analysis of the diverse meanings of the rejection of artworks--
Identity issues in the practice of the arts • Inclusion/cohesion • Art as expression of identity, difference (distinction) • exclusion • Discriminatory Dimensions of Artistic Practices & Institutions • Censorship and/or Democratization
Censorship as an outcome of democratization • artists’ (& minority publics’) rights to • “self-expression” or • freedom of speech (1st Amendment) • VS. public’s rights & government’s duties to enforce standards • issues-- what standards, whose standards?
Key issues in Democratization debates • public’s rights & public funding (access,control, taste) • “levels” of knowledge & tastes • artist’s rights & responsibility to be “leaders” in society
Diversity & Activism : Why? • To raise public awareness • Fund-raising • political & legal change
Debates about Arts activities for populations “at risk”? • Arts for arts sake? • “emancipatory self expression”? • social service? • Arts for Moral improvement? Carceral methods? (comfort, reform, “normalize”) • Arts and healing?r • propaganda?
Rejection and Destruction of Artworks-- • diverse meanings of the disappearance & rejection of artworks—
Forms of destruction & loss of artistic heritage • Neglect • Unplanned degeneration • Accidents • War • ‘progress’ • Planned disappearance (sometimes by artists or creators) • Iconoclasm & vandalism
Why isn’t everything kept? --The social context of collective memory • Personal (family) Networks & Values • Community-based criteria • Other factors (sometimes concurrent) • Scholarly • Political • Economic • Moral & ethical • Class-based (elite, popular) agendas etc…. • Variations in meaning over time
Vandalism vs. iconoclasm • Iconoclasm : deliberate destruction of images rooted in religious, political or other socio-cultural beliefs • Ex. Destruction of 3rd c. A.D. Buddhas by Taleban in Afghanistan completed March 12, 2002
Fuseli: Artist weeping in despair …. • diverse meanings of the disappearance & rejection of artworks • Vandalism vs. Iconoclasm • Vandalists: ignorant, senseless • Iconoclasts: deliberate opposition, “rationale” grounded in system of values
Iconoclasm-- Religious • Iconoclasm : deliberate destruction of images rooted in religious, political or other socio-cultural beliefs • Ex. Destruction of 3rd c. A.D. Buddhas by Taleban in Afghanistan completed March 12, 2002
Vandalism • Senseless • Vandals as idiots • Goya: No sabe que hace
Censorship and controversies as social “devices”for recognitionCase study: Rachel Whiteread’s 1993 House and the awarding of the “X-prize”
X-prize JAMS, Kopyright Liberation Front (KLF)K Foundation, • --Jimmy Cuaty & • Bill Drummond • -Brit Awards
Meaning of prize • Mocking? • contemporary art • competition system • Authority of judges • Money vs. sincerity • Value of particular artwork • Other events (musicians market art made of money for ½ value of materials)
Reputations & controversyWhiteread: young artist, strong career since
Social Issues/contradictions • Former hold-out (elderly) convinced to sell for art monument • Solidarity with homeless but Stopping low-rent housing project • Financed with public funds and donation from company believed guilty of destruction of neightbourhoods & natural habitats
Publicity & book • Critics Discourse– • Aesthetics • links to major monuments of art history (ex.Atrium House Pompei) • Feminist metaphor etc.
British fondness of home • Wind in the Willows image
Graffiti/Vandalism • Homes for all • black and white