Yes, indeed, by responding to works of art, we become more fully who we are , and great works do expand our capacities and completeness as human.
The critique of contemporary culture 1970-1985,by the Pop Artists, some of whom I knew personally, used suggestion, irony and a caustic visual mimicry of media, such as billboards, fast foods, newspaper repetitions, etc, to heighten our awareness about the ugly and destructive side of contemporary America. This critique did have a noticeable impact on collectors, art lovers, and sophisticated Americans. The comment by Auden ( with whom my Mother studied at Swarthmore College!) may be his reflection on his own political life, but , it is not a fair reflection on art of social criticism, for example, the pop artists, or Goya or Daumier, etc. Many of these types of social critique do have effects.
Propaganda is another type or category. It has a mono-reading,as stated : "HEY, DO THIS: RIDE THAT TRACTOR ! WE THE PEOPLE" etc.
It does seem that populations around the globe are becoming increasingly aware and/or immune to this type of meme, poster, image, TxT. Propaganda seems to fall flat, and happily so !
So many contemporary shows, poems, and essays are virtue signals, a specific type of come-on propaganda-- You are racist , a sexist, a molester, close-minded, nazi, etc, if you do not agree . It is a kind of backhanded propaganda; Pathetic, and as ineffective as full force propaganda: Drive that Tractor.
Ridiculously, current gallerists are so compelled to be virtuous-signalling concerning their own purity and social propriety that there are hundreds of these boring shows, to little effect at all.
They are not social critiques as much as pride statements-- we are so pure !!
Just silly, and boring to look at all that stuff.
High art will shine through, to sensitive viewers and enhance their lives.
"Their value is in the opportunities they provide for us to respond to their openness and ambiguity, their disinclination to send a clear message. In responding we become, for a moment and sometimes permanently, more completely who we are." ...is helpful
Dear Carter, I also loved your statement, “Their value is in the opportunities they provide for us to respond to their openness and ambiguity, their disinclination to send a clear message.” I learned four things:
1. Art provides opportunities.
2. Art asks us to respond.
3. Art can be open and ambiguous.
4. Art is not required to send a clear message.
Actually I already knew all this, but was so glad to read it. Thank you!
Thank you. I’d love to hear this discussed and expanded, but only by those over the age of 65. This issue is at the heart of The Conceptual Artist’s Cookbook, which comes down on the side of “no, maybe art can’t make change, but yes, artists can”
Yes, indeed, by responding to works of art, we become more fully who we are , and great works do expand our capacities and completeness as human.
The critique of contemporary culture 1970-1985,by the Pop Artists, some of whom I knew personally, used suggestion, irony and a caustic visual mimicry of media, such as billboards, fast foods, newspaper repetitions, etc, to heighten our awareness about the ugly and destructive side of contemporary America. This critique did have a noticeable impact on collectors, art lovers, and sophisticated Americans. The comment by Auden ( with whom my Mother studied at Swarthmore College!) may be his reflection on his own political life, but , it is not a fair reflection on art of social criticism, for example, the pop artists, or Goya or Daumier, etc. Many of these types of social critique do have effects.
Propaganda is another type or category. It has a mono-reading,as stated : "HEY, DO THIS: RIDE THAT TRACTOR ! WE THE PEOPLE" etc.
It does seem that populations around the globe are becoming increasingly aware and/or immune to this type of meme, poster, image, TxT. Propaganda seems to fall flat, and happily so !
So many contemporary shows, poems, and essays are virtue signals, a specific type of come-on propaganda-- You are racist , a sexist, a molester, close-minded, nazi, etc, if you do not agree . It is a kind of backhanded propaganda; Pathetic, and as ineffective as full force propaganda: Drive that Tractor.
Ridiculously, current gallerists are so compelled to be virtuous-signalling concerning their own purity and social propriety that there are hundreds of these boring shows, to little effect at all.
They are not social critiques as much as pride statements-- we are so pure !!
Just silly, and boring to look at all that stuff.
High art will shine through, to sensitive viewers and enhance their lives.
Thanks, Carter.
"Their value is in the opportunities they provide for us to respond to their openness and ambiguity, their disinclination to send a clear message. In responding we become, for a moment and sometimes permanently, more completely who we are." ...is helpful
Dear Carter, I also loved your statement, “Their value is in the opportunities they provide for us to respond to their openness and ambiguity, their disinclination to send a clear message.” I learned four things:
1. Art provides opportunities.
2. Art asks us to respond.
3. Art can be open and ambiguous.
4. Art is not required to send a clear message.
Actually I already knew all this, but was so glad to read it. Thank you!
Subtle sort of personal agency
Thank you. I’d love to hear this discussed and expanded, but only by those over the age of 65. This issue is at the heart of The Conceptual Artist’s Cookbook, which comes down on the side of “no, maybe art can’t make change, but yes, artists can”
Thanks for this thoughtful meditation. I think about this poem a lot. The final section, a poetic runaway freight, refuses to give up hope.