Pop Art Research Paper

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Pop Art: The Exchange of Consumerism and Culture Bold colors, consumer goods, comic book-inspired masterpieces. These are a few traits of Pop art which is often recognized as the most famous and ingenious art form of the 1960s. Pop art is the most innovative art form of the 20th century for several reasons. First, it has a rich history, beginning in Europe and spreading to America after World War II. The term “Pop” comes from popular culture and also inspired television, advertisements, and comics. Several people are credited with being the first explorers of Pop art and introducing Americans to the unique art form. Next, Pop art has many distinct characteristics that make it extraordinary such as vivid colors and paintings that depict …show more content…

today. The Pop art movement was part of a 1950s and 1960s cultural revolution led by activists, thinkers, and artists who did not want to conform to society. This movement encouraged Americans to look outward and take in worldly things, in contrast to Abstract Expressionism. Also, many more galleries were built and the popularity of art grew because of Pop art, a movement that as Wolf said, “seamlessly merged the realms of high art and popular culture.” Pop art also took advantage of and affected consumerism, “a preoccupation with and an inclination toward the buying of manufactured goods (“MoMA Learning”). The post war economy growth left people with more spendable income, so Pop artists used this opportunity to spread and exchange culture with consumers. Also, it encouraged consumers to see how goods were made and look below the surface of things. This exchange of consumerism and culture played a part in making Pop art such a successful movement. Pop art had many effects on postwar America and its impact is still felt today. As Thomas Crow said, “Pop is a broad, multifaceted, 65-year-long cultural phenomenon.” Popular culture influenced music and design as well as art, back in the 20th century and nowadays. The effects of popular culture were worldwide, as the similar 1960s Nouveau Realisme movement in France and Capitalist Realism movement in Germany also incorporated commercial objects into art. To conclude, without the influence of Pop art in the 1960s and consumerism exchanging with culture, American and worldwide society would not be the same as it is

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