Many of the artists and movements that we have been discussing continue in the avant-garde tradition of challenging the conventions of art, as well as the institutions that frame its reception. Discuss which artistic conventions in particular these artists are responding to, and how they are gesturing towards a new understanding of art.

Description

Choose one of the following essay questions. Discuss ALL of the artworks listed under that question. Write a formal essay with an introduction and conclusion. In your introduction, you should have a clearly stated thesis (please underline) that addresses the “how?” or the “why?”. When you first introduce each artwork, you should state the entire identification (i.e. name of the artist, title of the piece, and date). The entire essay should be written in your own words, although you may include a few well-selected quotes from the assigned readings (with in-text citation). Please type your essay and upload to Canvas.

1. Many of the artists and movements we have discussed in the second half of the course were responding directly to the rise of the modern era and consumer culture following W.W.II. Some artists celebrate it, others critique it, some parody its methods (i.e. ads or consumer goods), while still others pull back from the excesses of this new media public sphere and attempt what Susan Sontag calls a “re-education of perception.” In some cases, the artists make a statement about the relationship between capitalism, ecological disaster and social injustice. Discuss specifically how these works respond to consumer culture, as well as the attitude of the artist towards this newly-charged consumerism.

Relate each work to its historical context, artistic movement, and artist’s background. Also discuss relevant readings from Stiles/Selz and Canvas.

Yves Klein, Ritual for the Relinquishment . . ., 1957-59, Nouveau Realistes (Trickster lecture)

Joseph Beuys, 7,000 Oaks, 1982, Kassel, Germany, Dokumenta 7, Fluxus

Andy Warhol, Green Coca-Cola Bottles, 1962, Pop Art

Robert Morris, Installation, Green Gallery, NYC, 1964, Minimalism

Betye Saar, The Liberation of Aunt Jemima, 1972 (Identity lecture)

Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Untitled billboard, Sheridan Square, NYC, 1989 (Identity lecture)

Barbara Kruger, Untitled (Your gaze hits the side of my face), 1985-87 (Identity lecture)

2. Many of the artists and movements that we have been discussing continue in the avant-garde tradition of challenging the conventions of art, as well as the institutions that frame its reception. Discuss which artistic conventions in particular these artists are responding to, and how they are gesturing towards a new understanding of art. Relate each work to its historical context, artistic movement, and artist’s background. Also discuss relevant readings from Stiles/Selz and Canvas.

Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Journal d’Agriculture), book object, c. 1933-40s, American Surrealism

Jackson Pollock, Autumn Rhythm, 1950, Abstract Expressionism

Allan Kaprow, 18 Happenings in 6 Parts, 1959, Reuben Gallery, NYC (Art into Life lecture)

Eva Hesse, Hang Up, 1965-66, Anti-form

Yayoi Kusama, Infinity Room, 1965

Coco Fusco & Guillermo Gomez-Peña, Two Undiscovered Amerindians, performance, 1992-94 (Identity lecture)

Carolee Schneemann, Interior Scroll, 1975, performance art (Body lecture)

Last Completed Projects