For my compare and contrast essay I have chosen Tabaimo's danDAN (2009) and Kara Walker's Darkytown Rebellion(2001). These two works appealed to me because both of these pieces of art are contemporary and are meant to invoke strong reactions from any viewers. When looking at basic formal analysis of art work, we can always compare and contrast the formal elements. Some things to always take into consideration are: the medium, form, subject matter, and content that can bring the art to life. However, no matter how someone chooses to analyze art, it will always give us a new perceptive and appreciation for the world we look at and live in on a daily basis and of course no one interpretation is always correct. (Munsterberg )
Darkytown Rebellion, by Kara Walker, is a piece of work completed using the Silhouette medium that was popular during the 1800's and 1900’s. Although Darkytown Rebellion is a traveling installation, Walker resided in Rhode Island when the piece was completed. The size may also change according to where it is displayed due to it being a “room sized” installation. danDan is also a traveling installation piece, but is considered to be completed as a form of digital/animation art. danDan was completed in 2009 during the contemporary period by Tabaimo while she was living in Japan. Again, the actual size of the installation varies by the gallery the displays the work. (Munsterberg )
When analyzing Darkytown Rebellion for the compare/contrast, the first thing I notice about this piece is that it is, by far, not your usual sculpture. The work depicts iconography of the old South from early 19th century and consists of black silhouettes and white walls. This work is considered a
Taylor 2 sculpture due to the li...
... middle of paper ...
...urface of normal everyday life; where Darkytown Rebellion depicts the tragedy of slavery. Both of these works of art give us a sense of depth, layers, and the reflection of light. Both contemporary pieces depict significant events, but also by using different mediums in the process. One is busy and colorful; the other work of art is dark and encompassing. ("The Art Of Kara Walker")
In conclusion, although both of these works are contemporary installation pieces, they display notable differences. From the mediums to the colors and even the subject matter, these two artists have found a way to express the suffering that lies within everyday life within their culture in very different, but explosive ways. Even being from such great distances apart, viewers can see that similar, although different, issues exist all over the world thanks to these two brilliant women.
Think of the last time you saw a painting that featured African Americans in it. Were they the main focus? Did the painting have only African Americans or did it include white Americans too? Now think about the artist, were they an African American? The average person who knows little to nothing about art most likely does not know any African American artists or does not know many artworks that involve only black people in a non-historical context. Kerry James Marshall’s exhibition Mastry is exactly that. It is made up of multiple artworks which only show black people in both historical and non-historical contexts. This exhibition helps to counter this issue of the lack of artworks where only black people are portrayed how white people would
1) Shays' Rebellion, the post-Revolutionary clash between New England farmers and merchants that tested the precarious institutions of the new republic, threatened to plunge the "disunited states" into a civil war. The rebellion arose in Massachusetts in 1786, spread to other states, and culminated in an abortive attack on a federal arsenal.
Carrie Mae Weems is an eclectic artist dedicated to exploring the themes of family, gender, racism, and class in America. Although she is well known in the creative community for her revolutionary photography series, she is also an award-winning artist who has worked with textiles, video, and more. Lorna Simpson is an innovative, multimedia artist who revolutionized the art world with her introduction of photography installations featuring text. Her work explored stereotypes of race and gender, most often with an emphasis on African American women.
“In the first years of peacetime, following the Revolutionary War, the future of both the agrarian and commercial society appeared threatened by a strangling chain of debt which aggravated the depressed economy of the postwar years”.1 This poor economy affected almost everyone in New England especially the farmers. For years these farmers, or yeomen as they were commonly called, had been used to growing just enough for what they needed and grew little in surplus. As one farmer explained “ My farm provides me and my family with a good living. Nothing we wear, eat, or drink was purchased, because my farm provides it all.”2 The only problem with this way of life is that with no surplus there was no way to make enough money to pay excessive debts. For example, since farmer possessed little money the merchants offered the articles they needed on short-term credit and accepted any surplus farm goods on a seasonal basis for payment. However if the farmer experienced a poor crop, shopkeepers usually extended credit and thereby tied the farmer to their businesses on a yearly basis.3 During a credit crisis, the gradual disintegration of the traditional culture became more apparent. During hard times, merchants in need of ready cash withdrew credit from their yeomen customers and called for the repayment of loans in hard cash. Such demands showed the growing power of the commercial elite.4 As one could imagine this brought much social and economic unrest to the farmers of New England. Many of the farmers in debt were dragged into court and in many cases they were put into debtors prison. Many decided to take action: The farmers waited for the legal due process as long as them could. The Legislature, also know as the General Court, took little action to address the farmers complaints. 5 “So without waiting for General Court to come back into session to work on grievances as requested, the People took matters into their own hands.”6 This is when the idea for the Rebellion is decided upon and the need for a leader was eminent.
Black-figure painting was first established in Corinth, c 700 BCE then Athens was influenced by the technique and got control over it (Cartwright, 2012). The entire process was made out of iron clay found in the area mixed with potash pigment, water and leave it evaporate under the sun until it’s thick and settle. Move on to wedging process where human used energy to make the clay combine together and create the smoothness. The forms of potter are made on the potter wheel and are control by human’s hands, which is fascinating because people will have respect toward a finished product. After shaping the entire form, it’s then bake inside a kiln until it turns black (Britannica, 2014). Black-figure painting usually presents a storytelling by depicting animals or people in silhouette and sometime th...
Equality is not something we get to have when we come into this world. It is something that is being fought for and will continue to fight for as long as people think of themselves and do not think of the consequences that may occur from their own actions. In the book “Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt” by Chris Hedges and Joe Sacco they narrowed in on what structural violence is. The different examples of injustices that were occurring around the countries. Lastly explains the ways the oppressed used there actions, words, and ideas to fight the injustices. Injustices are all around world many of which still have a lot of control to this day and take a toll on the less able. Allowing large corporations to dictate what will be said and done.
The setting of these two stories emphasize, on visually showing us how the main characters are based around trying to find freedom despite the physical, mental and emotional effects of living in confinement. While on the other hand, dealing with Psychology’s ugly present day behavior showing dystopia of societies views of women during the time period they lived.
Karenga wanted a black aesthetic to judge the validity of the artwork. He wants it to support the revolution and motivate the people about the better times to come. Black art needs to be functional, collective, and committing. It will be judged on two levels, the artistic and social, mostly social though. Karenga wants art to express his hatred for the white man and motivate others to hate the white man. He wants everyone to forget about the past and not let that effect how they feel. The black community has to leave the past in the past so they can focus and not miss out on the opportunity that is presented before them. The art needs to remind them of their hatred for the enemy and their commitment for the permeant revolution that they will fight
Kara Walker’s Silhouette paintings are a description of racism, sexuality, and femininity in America. The works of Kara Elizabeth Walker, an African American artist and painter, are touched with a big inner meaning. A highlight of the picture displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco will be discussed and the symbolism of the sexuality and slavery during the Atlantic slavery period will be enclosed. The modern Art Museum has works of over 29,000 paintings, photos, design and sculptures among others. The use of black Silhouette is her signature in the artistic career.
While these two pieces have many similarities and differences, they have a common purpose, to allow a viewer to experience a bit of nature. The two artists used their own unique styles to depict a similar scene that resulted in two different paintings that each allow a viewer to experience this bit of nature in whatever way they interpret it. This is sort of the whole point of art, and it seems that both of these pieces captured that point very well.
South University Online. (2013). HUM 1002: History of Art from the Middle Ages to Modern Times: Week 1: Elements of Design. Retrieved from myeclassonline.com
“Compare the ways in which the authors of the two texts convey ideas about art through their central characters?
In conclusion, scholars have come to identity “Ethiopia Awakening” as one of Fuller’s most meaningful works. 34 The sculpture demonstrated multiple and diverse meanings. “Ethiopia Awakening” embodied symbolic language that pointed to the struggles of contemporary African Americans. Fuller’s use of symbolic language demonstrated that like music and religion, art has the power to express emotion. Today, “Ethiopia Awakening” stands in the reading room of the Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Division at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City. The sculpture reminds researchers to recover, document, write and share African American history.
Furthermore, in the discussion of comparing and contrasting the two pieces, it will include his influences, color palette, humanitarian attributes and emotional expressionism.
Neal, Larry. “The Black Arts Movement.” The Black Aesthetic. Ed. Addison Gayle, Jr.New York: Doubleday &Company, Inc., 1971. 272 - 290.