Art is a powerful tool which artists can use to depict their feelings and experiences and express their feelings on systems such as political, social, cultural and economic systems. Artists have gone beyond the simple meanings to deep interpretations and the American flag has been highly used. Use of the American flag by artists has served the purpose of honoring the country as well as articulating issues that bring the country down. The flag is used as a symbol of power to support the theme of power. For instance, Barbara Kruger’s flag referred to as the Untitled Questions uses texts written in blue, red and white blocks to create an image of the American flag. The words form questions which explore the theme of power. For instance, from the …show more content…
Artists have used the flag as a way of representing the American ideals and exposing what fall short of such ideals in the past. For example, Ringgold’s “Flag of the Moon: Die Nigger” on the article entitled “13 ways artists around the world have interpreted the American flag” articulated the theme of racial conflicts that existed in America and the experiences that black American women went through. Through the history that she portrays in her work, we learn about what it took to be an African American during the past. The flag piece of art was created using oil on canvas of 36 ×50 inches in 1967/ 1969. Issues of gender, race and sexuality have also been brought out in artistic works. Use of collage in flags has been used to not only recapture the history but also create strong messages. The use of a flag in artistic works can help to create symbolic meanings and it also makes people proud. There is use of colors, symmetry and repetition in the use of flags to create artistic works which speak the minds of the artist. Arita’s image has been used to cover women martyrs in Iran. Martyrdom was very popular in Iran and has psychological effects. In Arita’s photo, martyrdom is portrayed by an image of a woman with a gun in her hair that resembles jewellery. This work explores on the theme of gender identity. The image brings out the paradox about women that they could be very attractive, …show more content…
She uses materials that depict presence and absence at the same time. Her work on death informs the art practice that art can hold our potential to make us unaware of the experiences of life and that people should not be worried about death in their daily activities because this can hinder them from fully enjoying their lives. Art and the process of making art inform us on the way we live. In making art, creativity is very crucial. The focus on art should be on the process of art making, not the product which blends well with spiritual practice. For a long time, art has been used to propagate stereotypes and discriminatory images against black women. It is time that artists developed works which show the importance of evolution in our culture through celebrating the image of black women in their artistic works by combining techniques such as collage, detail as well as metaphor. These works emphasize the role of artists as discussed in the power point notes that artists create visual records of people, places and events of their time and place. They also give form to immaterial personal feelings and through creativity communicate powerful messages or topics to those who can interpret the
Art has always been used to portray a message, American art is no different. Throughout the years American art has been created for many different reasons, including parody and satire. One such example is the painting The Surrender by Joseph Griffith. Although it contains jumbled imagery and may convey a mixed message, The Surrender's main message is that American culture is idolized by the youth of today and that American as a whole is waging war on cultures and religions it doesn’t understand.
The idea that art can be a service to people- most importantly a service to poor and disenfranchised people is one that may be disputed by some. However, Elizabeth Catlett and other artists at the taller de Graffica Popular have proved that art could be made to service the poor. Catlett in particular is someone who has always used her art to advocate for the poor and fight injustices. While her activism and political views were very impactful, they were also very controversial. Catlett`s art and activism influenced African American and Latin American art by changing the narratives of Black and Brown working class women. In their books titled Gumbo Ya Ya, The Art of Elizabeth Catlett, African American Art: The Long Struggle, and Elizabeth Catlett: Works on Paper authors Leslie King-Hammond, Samella S. Lewis, Crystal Britton, Elizabeth Catlett, and Jeanne Zeidler speak of the work of Catlett. In a paper titled -----, ---- also speaks of the work of Elizabeth Catlett and her legacy as an activist.
“Painting is a way to examine the world in ways denied me by the United States justice system, a way to travel beyond the walls and bars of the penitentiary. Through my paints I can be with my People—in touch with my culture, tradition, and spirit. I can watch little children in regalia, dancing and smiling; see my elders in prayer; behold the intense glow in a warrior’s eye. As I work the canvas, I am a free man.” – Leonard Peltier
The male artists portrayed women as a projection of their ideal woman. The artist’s often overlooked the women’s identity’s and personalities in favour of creating aesthetically pleasing art for themselves and other superior males to view and enjoy. This was especially harmful because the more popular the art grew to be, the more often women were categorised as objects rather than people. The art contributed to gender construction by creating these gender roles and reinforcing that in all situations, men were superior to
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.
...owing us with her great works. She has led a driven and captivating career. While she has received much controversy in her time she has managed to continue creating great works. She is widely acknowledge, and so far through out her life, has made quite an impact. Her love of nature and in it’s importance is rippled through out all her work, mostly in the freedom of her later works. Her ability to maintain balance between her love for architecture and art, has helped to make her stand out in both crowds. Her sculptures will please viewers for centuries to come.
As can be seen throughout history, art is a powerful expressive model that has the capacity to instruct and construct social change within a community. The art born out of the Chicano Movement of the 1960’s is a perfect example of this phenomenon. In response to the struggle for civil rights for Mexican-Americans immigrants, Chicanos and Chicanas created an art aesthetic that embodied the activist spirit of the movement. As Alicia Gaspar de Alba once stated, “the Chicano art movement functioned as the aesthetic representation of the political, historical, cultural and linguistic issues that constituted the agenda of the Chicano civil rights movement.” By taking an activist approach to challenge the stereotypes, economic inequality and xenophobic shortcomings of the dominant mainstream and by promoting awareness of history, culture and community the visual art of the Chicano Movement served as a political tool to enact social change for Mexican-American Immigrants of all generations.
This investigation will examine a few key works by the anonymous female artist group know in popular culture as the Guerrilla Girls. In this essay it will reveal several prominent themes within the groups works that uncover the racial and gender inequalities in politics, art and pop culture with the use of humor. These collaborating artists work and operate with a variety of mediums, their works display a strong message concerned with activism connected by humor allowing the Guerrilla Girls to communicate and resonate a more powerful message to the viewer. The ways in which this collaborating group has employed many questions and facts against the hierarchy and historical ideologies which have exploited women and their roles in art. This investigation will allow the reader to identify three areas in which the Guerrilla Girls apply a certain forms of humor to transform society’s view on the prominent issue of gender in the art world. These specific ploys that are performed by the Guerrilla Girls are in the way they dress, the masks they wear, pseudonymous names of dead women artists and the witty factual evidence in their works. These are all examples to evoke audiences in challenging not only the art society which dictates the value and worth of women in art but also to confront yourself and your own beliefs in a way that makes audiences rethink these growing issues.
After July 4th, 1776, the people of the colonies felt the need of a national flag to symbolize their new spirit of unity and independence. On the afternoon
Blacks have become the most often targeted in hate crime. The slightly covered moon might be an indirect indication that there will be some kind of transformation going on at night. For example, the little African boy grew horns at night which makes him look like a devil after catching a duck by the river or lake. There is a white man lifting a black woman on the end of this artwork. It looks like he is about to throw her off to ground. The broom she is carrying in her hand may be a signal that she is a witch for the reason that she is high up above the ground. To whites, these slaves from Africa are portrayed as devils in disguise and witches who practice witchcraft. In the 21st century, our society still has stereotypes remain rooted for African Americans. Those stereotypes are often created during our first impression. However, most of our negative stereotypes are created by advertising, media, and our society. The problem is we are developing an image of African Americans based on generalizations and not our encounter or first impression of them.
The narratives in the work speak to the racial and social inequalities in America in the nineties. This deep concern with the coloured experience and the struggle for civil rights is seen in the images and sculptures she creates. Especially of women, as she lived through a time of widespread segregation, so her work was created from the place she knew most intimately.
Though the film may start with the mystery of her death, it is the mystery of what happens after death that captivates the audience. It is the story of the individuals whom her body will come in contact with, that show us the truth behind death, the simplistic and enticing truth. Director Jared Anderson brings death to life by showing the audience what exactly happens after death. What he chooses to capture is the normalcy in death, how un-special yet interesting death is. How does he do it?
The exhibition is not too large as it only contains around eighty artworks. These works all have African Americans as the main subject since Marshall believes that African Americans deserve more attention in art because they are almost “invisible” in a way. Mastry is arranged chronologically, starting with Marshall’s earlier works and then leading to galleries with themes such as beauty or the civil-rights struggle. Mastry should be visited because it allows a person to learn about African American art which is underrepresented and underappreciated. The general idea or thesis of this exhibition is that African Americans have been looked down on throughout history and viewed as subhumans, or even invisible. Marshall’s exhibition is about appreciating African Americans and viewing them as what they are: humans.
Art influences life: when it starts a conversation about prejudices, the audience is impacted to continue the conversation.
Racism can be experienced by anyone at anytime, as well as give them false ideas of others. “People who experiences racism can suffer ongoing feelings of sadness, anger, depression, not wanting to trust others, headaches, sweating, muscle tension, constant fear of others.” (Galang). Art is particularly influential to ordinary citizens that view all different forms of art, such as music, film, literature, paintings, and photography. Society should not bully others based on skin color or to make people feel hated because it’s unnecessary and has zero benefits for anyone.