Post on 24-Dec-2015
SOCIAL ISSUES & ETHICAL
QUESTIONS
Social critiqueArtists have & continue to highlight
problematic issues in society.Raise public awareness – can lead
to change for the betterFocused on conveying a messageSome artists experiment with the
ethical limits of art in order to get attention & shock the general observer
OVERVIEW
Tries to make the viewer evoke emotionPossibly shock the viewer
Addresses an important issueSymbolism is used within the workCan have one interpretation or open-
ended/ambiguous
CHARACTERISTICS
58) THE ABORIGINAL MEMORIAL
By: Paddy DhatanguCreated to correspond with the 200 th
anniversary of the European Settlement in Australia
Marked past tragedies & current inequality for the aboriginals of Australia
Consists of 200 traditional coffi ns (hollowed logs – dupun) each decorated with unique designs & images
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-LSea6zAqo
58) THE ABORIGINAL MEMORIAL (1988) NATURAL PIGMENTS ON 200 LOGS
59) NICKEL TAILINGS #30 SUDBURY, ONTARIO
By: Edward Burtynsky - Contemporary Canadian Photographer
Main theme: nature transformed through industry
Open-ended interpretationSubjects are often torn between
beauty & repulsion/attraction & fear
Explores dilemma of consuming materials to improve our lives, but harming the earth & our own health in the process
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7oDeUyYj0Y
59) NICKEL TAILINGS #30 SUDBURY, ONTARIO. (1996)
PHOTOGRAPH
60) MOTHER AND CHILD DIVIDED
By: Damien Hirst – Contemporary British Artist
Believes art is in the mind – has assistants to create his work
Plays with the concept of what is art – aims to shock the viewer
Attempts to create attraction & repulsion towards his subject
Tries to create metaphors to religious themes
Often accused of plagiarism by other artists
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh42L1dtGE4
60) MOTHER AND CHILD DIVIDED (1993) STEEL, GRP COMPOSITES, GLASS, SILICONE
SEALANTS, COW, CALF, FORMALDEHYDE SOLUTION
61) THE DINNER PARTY
By: Judy Chicago Massive ceremonial banquet on a triangular
table with 39 place settings – each commemorating an important woman from history
Includes embroidered runners, gold chalices/utensils & painted porcelain plates with raised motifs (butterfly & genitalia forms) that reflect on each specific woman
999 names of other women inscribed on tile floor
61) THE DINNER PARTY (1979) CERAMIC AND HANDWOVEN CLOTH
Women featured from primordial times to Georgia O’Keefe (20 th Century)
Meant to highlight the fact that women are often overlooked in written history
62) WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER HERO
By: Barbara Kruger Comes from 2 pop culture
concepts: Norman Rockwell’s image of “Dick & Jane” and Tina Turner’s lyrics from the Mad Max movie set in a post-nuclear war future
Works are somewhat ambiguous & allows for more than one interpretation
Questions concept of heroism & the role of boys vs. girls in society
62) WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER HERO (1987) PHOTOGRAPHIC SILKSCREEN /
VINYL
Uses advertising techniques to attract people’s attention & make them aware of issues
From mid 1970’s+, belonged to Artists Meeting for Social Change – wanted to create art with more intellectual challenge & political content
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wTb7pOSPG4