What is Art? Who are artists? Theories about the relationship between Art & Society--continued(Socio-historic dimensions)

What is Art? Who are artists? Theories about the relationship between Art & Society--continued(Socio-historic dimensions)

Readings :

Becker, Howard. “Art Worlds", and

Bourdieu, Pierre. "Who Creates the 'Creator'?” & "The Circle of Belief”

Inglis, David. “Thinking ‘Art’ Sociologically”

Mitchell, W.J.T. “Offending Images..”

Recommended:

Becker “The power of inertia”

Bill Viola “Crossings” (detail)

Art & Society exampleArt & Society example

Recall from last day: Videoclip: Excerpt from Cai Guo-Qiang interview: Recall from last day: Videoclip: Excerpt from Cai Guo-Qiang interview: Art:21(Art in the 21st Century) Art:21(Art in the 21st Century) PBSPBS

Olympic Ceremony Controversy (enhancement of Guo-Qiangs’s Olympic Ceremony Controversy (enhancement of Guo-Qiangs’s Footprints of Footprints of History” History” firework performance firework performance

http://blog.art21.org/2008/08/22/cai-guo-qiang-responds-to-olympics-fireworks-controversy/http://blog.art21.org/2008/08/22/cai-guo-qiang-responds-to-olympics-fireworks-controversy/

TodayToday

Lecture on different theories about art worldsLecture on different theories about art worlds Discussion of last week’s visit to Wack! Discussion of last week’s visit to Wack!

(Vancouver Art Gallery special exhibition)(Vancouver Art Gallery special exhibition) Discussion of Choices of Topics for First Discussion of Choices of Topics for First

Presentations and Scheduling (Revision of Presentations and Scheduling (Revision of Handout 2)Handout 2)

Field Trip to Gallery GachetField Trip to Gallery Gachet

Last Day(?)--Theories of Art and Society (Different Intellectual Traditions & Roots)Last Day(?)--Theories of Art and Society (Different Intellectual Traditions & Roots)

Humanistic disciplines (history, literary studies)Humanistic disciplines (history, literary studies) Formerly centered on great events, individuals, canonsFormerly centered on great events, individuals, canons Some interdisciplinary (ex. Cultural studies) Some interdisciplinary (ex. Cultural studies) Iconographic & formalist frameworksIconographic & formalist frameworks

Visual and Performing Arts Visual and Performing Arts perspective of art-makers & criticsperspective of art-makers & critics

AnthropologyAnthropology functions of the arts & symbolic representations, “others”functions of the arts & symbolic representations, “others” ex. Religious, ritualex. Religious, ritual

PsychologyPsychology cognition & perceptioncognition & perception

PhilosophyPhilosophy AAesthetics, knowledge etc.esthetics, knowledge etc.

Sociology & Communications –many approaches (focus of Sociology & Communications –many approaches (focus of the course)the course)

Last Day--Some “Common-sense” approaches to Art/Society RelationsLast Day--Some “Common-sense” approaches to Art/Society Relations

Art as historical record (events, practices, Art as historical record (events, practices, values)-- notion of values)-- notion of Zeitgeist Zeitgeist (spirit of the time) (spirit of the time) or mentalitiesor mentalities

Measure of civilization (with predictable stages Measure of civilization (with predictable stages of “development”) of “development”)

Predictor or instigator of change (theories of the Predictor or instigator of change (theories of the avant-garde)avant-garde)

Current Controversy over what art represents (EU public art project--Brussels)Current Controversy over what art represents (EU public art project--Brussels)

L-“The sculpture resembles a giant model kit with snap-out pieces.” (CBC)

R-“Romania is depicted as a vampire theme park.” (CBC)

See also CBC coverage (link) Jan 14 2009British (Telegraph) coverage and video

Bulgaria as a toilet link

Theories about changes in ideas about what art represents over time (Jurt)Theories about changes in ideas about what art represents over time (Jurt)

rendering of “reality” (nature), rendering of “reality” (nature), mimesis, imitatiomimesis, imitatio as world view in a specific place & timeas world view in a specific place & time as product of solitary genius (Renaissance)as product of solitary genius (Renaissance) Artists’ vision (19th romanticism)Artists’ vision (19th romanticism) made by “system” of production & receptionmade by “system” of production & reception Socio-political processes (symbolic & material)Socio-political processes (symbolic & material)

Disciplinary Differences: Internal vs. External ApproachesDisciplinary Differences: Internal vs. External Approaches

““internal”internal” (humanities) -- arts outside social (humanities) -- arts outside social processesprocesses Artist=solitary creator, exceptional genius (humanistic Artist=solitary creator, exceptional genius (humanistic

approach)approach) Arts, aesthetics as “universal”Arts, aesthetics as “universal”

““external”external” (social sciences) --art world(s) socially (social sciences) --art world(s) socially constructedconstructed importance of social context, processes & structures for importance of social context, processes & structures for

understanding the production/creation, mediation & understanding the production/creation, mediation & reception/consumption of the arts, recognition processes, reception/consumption of the arts, recognition processes, their uses, functions, meaningstheir uses, functions, meanings

Some Internal Debates: “What is Art? Who Are Artists?”

Some Internal Debates: “What is Art? Who Are Artists?”

emphasis onemphasis on Gifts, talent, innate Gifts, talent, innate

characteristics (for Artists)characteristics (for Artists) expression of eternal expression of eternal

“truths”, aesthetics (for “truths”, aesthetics (for artists & possibly artists & possibly connoisseurs)connoisseurs) music Clip “Pain in my music Clip “Pain in my

heart”, Otis Reddingheart”, Otis Redding, R & , R & B, Stax VoltB, Stax Volt

Ex. Notion that Greek Aesthetic Ex. Notion that Greek Aesthetic Values (like Ideals of BeautyValues (like Ideals of Beauty& Bodily Proportions) express & Bodily Proportions) express universalsuniversals

What are “problems” with this?What are “problems” with this?

Internal Approaches --What is Art and Who are Artists? (cont’d)

Internal Approaches --What is Art and Who are Artists? (cont’d)

Styles, tastes and systems of ranking art formsStyles, tastes and systems of ranking art forms

– avant-garde vs. traditionalists etc.avant-garde vs. traditionalists etc.

– Genres, art formsGenres, art forms

– Types of art Types of art CanonsCanons – –essential components of dominant art system, essential components of dominant art system,

influential artworksinfluential artworks that participants must know & understand that participants must know & understand place of social & historical processes in defining art & place of social & historical processes in defining art &

what/who gets included in what/who gets included in canonscanons

Ex. Marcel Duchamp--Readymade Sculptures vs. conventional techniques (challenging definitions of what is art)

Ex. Marcel Duchamp--Readymade Sculptures vs. conventional techniques (challenging definitions of what is art)

Fountain, original (left) and recreations of lost 1917 “Original”

Who decides what is art?– the artist, experts, publics??

Other Challenges to the Canon: Mona Lisa & DuchampOther Challenges to the Canon: Mona Lisa & Duchamp

(l.)Leonardo DaVinci’s so-called Mona Lisa c. 1503; (r.) Marcel Duchamp’s L.H.O.O.Q, 1920 for a Paris Dada show.

Cont.: Mona Lisa & Non-western cultural traditionsCont.: Mona Lisa & Non-western cultural traditions

(l.)Leonardo DaVinci’s so-called Mona Lisa c. 1503; (r.)Book cover from Cultural Studies for Beginners by Sardar & Van Loon.

Ex. “Differencing the Canon”Ex. “Differencing the Canon” Guerilla Girls posterGuerilla Girls poster

References to Artistic Canons as way of establishing credibility & authority within art worldsReferences to Artistic Canons as way of establishing credibility & authority within art worlds

Jean August Dominique Ingres, Grande Odalisque (1814), oil on canvas.

Another ExampleAnother Example Manet Olympia 1863.

Yasumasa Morimura Twins Yasumasa Morimura Twins

“Externalist” Views “Externalist” Views art should be art should be contextualizedcontextualized (situate in social & historic contexts) (situate in social & historic contexts) search for patterns (regularity) rather than exceptionssearch for patterns (regularity) rather than exceptions

What do successful artists have in common?What do successful artists have in common? What do fans share?What do fans share? How do institutions function?How do institutions function?

wider range of art forms studied (high culture, pop culture etc..)wider range of art forms studied (high culture, pop culture etc..) Stronger focus on institutions & processes ofStronger focus on institutions & processes of

Production-creationProduction-creation • (training, collaboration networks etc.)(training, collaboration networks etc.)

MediationMediation • (gatekeepers, facilitators etc.) (gatekeepers, facilitators etc.)

Reception,Reception, consumption consumption • (tastes, audiences, publics, markets)(tastes, audiences, publics, markets)

Importance of social processes for recognition of the arts & artists: Visitors to the Louvre Museum in front of Mona Lisa

Importance of social processes for recognition of the arts & artists: Visitors to the Louvre Museum in front of Mona Lisa

Second Part of Class this week : Visit to Gallery Gachet---Second Part of Class this week : Visit to Gallery Gachet---

Name: Dr. Gachet Name: Dr. Gachet (homeopathic doctor, (homeopathic doctor, Vincent Van Gogh Vincent Van Gogh portrait, 1890)portrait, 1890)

Mandate—dissident Mandate—dissident artists, community artists, community involvementinvolvement

Website Website

http://www.gachet.org/http://www.gachet.org/

Location of Gallery GachetLocation of Gallery Gachet

88 Cordova St E (between Carroll and 88 Cordova St E (between Carroll and Colombia—about 4 ½ blocks east of Colombia—about 4 ½ blocks east of Richards– use north side to avoid Richards– use north side to avoid construction, then cross)construction, then cross)

Mapquest linkMapquest link

Note to Users of these Outlines-Note to Users of these Outlines-

not all material covered in class appears on these not all material covered in class appears on these outlines-- important examples, demonstrations and outlines-- important examples, demonstrations and discussions aren’t written down here.discussions aren’t written down here.

Classes are efficient ways communicating Classes are efficient ways communicating information and provide you will an opportunity information and provide you will an opportunity for regular learning. These outlines are provided for regular learning. These outlines are provided as a study aid not a replacement for classes.as a study aid not a replacement for classes.

If Time--Big Issues: Relations between Types of art & types of societies—<Reflection theory>

If Time--Big Issues: Relations between Types of art & types of societies—<Reflection theory> Proposes that art Proposes that art reflectsreflects material & symbolic conditions material & symbolic conditions

ex. Class differences in tastesex. Class differences in tastes Marxist notions, & theories of reflection (Arnold Hauser,Theodor Marxist notions, & theories of reflection (Arnold Hauser,Theodor

Adorno)Adorno)

Art may also communicate social values, Art may also communicate social values, norms,missiionsnorms,missiions

BUT Hotly contested (especially by contemporary artists)BUT Hotly contested (especially by contemporary artists)

Later in course: Questions about Art, Class and Power Later in course: Questions about Art, Class and Power

oppression (propaganda, hegemony of elite)?oppression (propaganda, hegemony of elite)? Reproduction of inequalities?Reproduction of inequalities? Civilizing ProcessCivilizing Process?? Emancipation & social change?Emancipation & social change?

art has potential to liberate therefore art has potential to liberate therefore NOT NOT mechanical reflection of societymechanical reflection of society

Another suggested readingAnother suggested reading

““Is art good for us?”Is art good for us?”Joli JensonJoli Jenson Critique of instrumental logic (transmission Critique of instrumental logic (transmission

models of communication)models of communication) Good (taste in) art=good people?Good (taste in) art=good people?