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.