Reading In-Class Images

Today in class we analyzed sets of six pieces, each group united by a common theme.  At first these themes were not so apparent, given the very wide range of styles and mediums that the different pieces used.  However, then it became clear that the messages of the individual pieces shared ideas with each other.  The six pieces in my groups set all commented on the state of pop culture and the western world.  In terms of mediums, these pieces ranged from late 19th Century paintings: The Scream, by Edvard Munch, to a still from the music video for Madonna's song Material Girl, which was in itself an appropriation of a scene from a Marilyn Monroe film as she sings Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend.  And this was also a common theme within my set, for besides The Scream, each piece made acute and/or obtuse references to another famous piece of artwork, to further the message of the piece: one of the other pieces was a mural depicting 20th Century martyrs who had died fighting for their cause, all sitting around a long white table, as the Last Supper is commonly depicted. 

week 2: artist 1

This is a work by Wolfgang Staehle. It depicts the destruction of the WTC in 2001 in four sequenced photographs.  It progresses from a sky blue city-scape with the Towers holding sway over the skyline.  By the end of the sequence, they have completely disappeared from view, leaving a seeming peace again over the skyline.  I was drawn to this work because of the significance of the event it depicts: one of the most important events, internationally, of my generation.  I admire the simplicity and honesty with which it is presented, which makes it very heavy.  To one ignorant of what is actually going on in these pictures, there may not be much to gather.  They would have no idea that here was the beginning of the 21st Century, the War on Terrorism, and all of the resulting consequences.  Thus the observations made by Buster and Crawford in The Critique Handbook: the differences between denotation and connotation.  Denotation: a pair of towers imploding, collapsing to the ground.  Connotation: The Twin Towers at the hour of tragedy, the death of thousands and the beginning of an era.  This project was conceived to document the changing of the light, and the passing of the day on the two towers.  On that note, it qualifies as art, according to Wollheim, quoted in What is Art?, the artist had a purpose, and so created his art.  On the other, Davidson would probably not perceive this as art, as he does not consider the cave drawings to be art.  I agree that this is more a documentation of history than a creation, the manifestation of an idea.  However, because of the aesthetic presentation, and the sequencing, I think I would consider this a work of art. link to the page

floating clouds reprogrammed from the super mario game by cory arcangel; link to arcangel's website below
http://www.beigerecords.com/cory/21c/21c.html