"The more horrifying this world becomes, the more art becomes abstract...", words derived from a diary entry from 1915 by Paul Klee, a Swiss-born artist (1879 - 1940).
This is what exactly happened with art in the period 1940 - 1965. Two atom bombs on Japan. November first, 1952 the first US hydrogen bomb.
It was a thousand times more devastating than the bomb on Hiroshima. Nine month later Russia exploded its own H-bomb.
In the Cold War period total annihilation of mankind had become one of the threats.
It was in this world Abstract Expressionism emerged. It is an artistic movement of the mid-20th century
comprising diverse styles and techniques and emphasizing especially an artist’s liberty to convey attitudes and emotions through nontraditional and usually nonrepresentational means.
The basic assumption of the abstract expressionist is that art elicits and provokes emotion in the viewer. The idea leaned heavily on psycho-analytical theories.
Artists like Pollock believed that it was the viewer and not the artist who defines and interpret the meaning of the abstract expressionist artwork
thus, there is no relevance on what artist thinks or conveys while producing the work. The viewer ('s subconscious mind) had to create his own interpretations.
The other art movement, strongly influenced by psycho-analysis was the figurative surrealism.
To put it simple, it was assumed that the (abstract) artwork would appeal to all kinds of (subconscious) emotions in the viewer and make him aware of them.
The abstract expressionists were frequently critisized because of the lack of explicite meaning or social commitment in their work.
The response was among others Andy Warhol (1928 - 1987), an American artist, director and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art.
The most important characteristic of pop art is burning incense for instead of criticizing the mass culture and lifestyle of the middle class.
All pop art artists used images taken from mass culture, comics, and television.
Our quintessential question is, looking at all these developments in the 20th century, what is the role of art in our world today.
I was a professor at an Academy of Fine Art myself for 20 years, teaching computer classes on everything, from DTP to video editing and multimedia programming.
Answering the question about the role of art was for 97% easy, for it was about educating graphic designers, photographers, interior designers, fashion designers, product designers.
There was just that one group of students who were enrolled in "Autonomous Art", who saw themselves as the real artist. They just made things.
In the early 1960s conceptual art was all the rage. Conceptual art usually came attached with a theoretical baggage to help explain its meaning.
If the consumer did not get the full picture, they could be ‘coached’ by the artist’s manifesto or the critic’s interpretation, which made me wonder so often.
One thing early modernist artists (1920’s) did to safeguard from over zealous interpreters was to eliminate content altogether by formal abstraction, where the form became the content.
The later modernists (1960’s) completed the project by making the content so blatant and innocuous (Pop Art) that there wasn’t anything there to interpret.
I often have wondered, what the meaning and function was of what the autonomous students created....
Maybe selling it to a museum and getting it on the wall there?
Thank you for your attention.....
The Discussion
[13:27] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): interesting
[13:27] herman Bergson: How do we see art today?
[13:27] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): thank you it was very enlighting
[13:27] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): we dont see art today
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i like this kind of art its sort of mystical
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like surrealism a bit
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): very abstract and special
[13:28] herman Bergson: Next lecture will be dedicated to Susan Sontag....
[13:28] herman Bergson: Yes Bejiita....they included a lot of psych ideas in surrealist painting....take Dali for instance
[13:29] CB Axel: I tend to like abstract art. I guess I don't like to be told what I'm seeing. :)
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is nice to decide I don't like a piece of art
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and love another
[13:29] herman Bergson: I guess you might like Susan Sontag's ideas then :-)
[13:30] CB Axel: I like impressionists, too.
[13:30] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): abstract
[13:30] herman Bergson: Me too CB :-)
[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): some yes
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Id say the most ultimate form of art in general is what i do, computer game creation. Here you combine ALL forms of art into 1. Authoring, visual art, film, animation, sound/music and programming
[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): some not so much
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): to make interactive stories
[13:30] herman Bergson: Renoir, Manet, Monet....
[13:30] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): love is an abstract
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats the ultimate art form of today
[13:31] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): it is full of color and confusion and beauty
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): what is the definition of art?
[13:31] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): love
[13:31] herman Bergson: Well Bejiita....the multimedia aspect is indeed interesting
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): id say creativity for our senses
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hopes you got to the Florence Griswold museum when you were in Connecticut herman
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): one of the first bases of impressionism in the USA
[13:32] CB Axel: Opera is multimedia. All theater is, I guess.
[13:32] herman Bergson: I missed it Gemma :-(
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh too bad
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): the story is amazing
[13:32] herman Bergson: I was tied to the University
[13:32] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): when do you call a painting ..art?
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well they have a good museum there
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and a wonderful puppet museum too
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the concept of games as art is somewhat controversial but likewise it at least to me is 100% true because indeed ALL forms of are often combined here into 1 work
[13:33] herman Bergson: the moment you say 'this is art' Beertje :-)
[13:33] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :)
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and i see this when i create my things in Unity/Unreal
[13:33] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): a panting becomes art when it moves your soul
[13:33] Oceane (oceane.madrigal) is offline.
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its art, sound, story writing, programming, animation
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): all of these i have to learn
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and its damn interesting
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): you learn them all
[13:35] herman Bergson: But we still love some romantic idea Bejiita....
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but i also try follow a certain category of ideas
[13:35] herman Bergson: All you refer to is what is called APPLIED art....
[13:35] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): yes panting is from a heart
[13:35] CB Axel: Carma, then I guess Warhol's soup cans aren't art. They don't move my soul. They just make me hungry.
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): both steampunk and surrealism i have tried as the main theme
[13:35] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): they pass a feeling on to you
[13:35] herman Bergson: applied to game creation....
[13:35] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): that is art
[13:35] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): the art ofd making you fell it
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:35] herman Bergson: Carma is talking about this autonomous art....Art for art
[13:36] CB Axel: If you consider hunger a feeling, then I take back what I said about Warhol.
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aa i have heard of that i think
[13:36] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): everything you create is you...and the love you want to shair or the pain or anything inside you
[13:36] herman Bergson: For some reason we seem to appreciate that more as art
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the thing with art is that it is a such broad concept
[13:37] herman Bergson: it is a feeling CB....a response
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): some animals actually make art
[13:37] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): did not God create us ...we are the most perfect art
[13:37] CB Axel: Then I guess a pizza is a work of art. It gives me many feelings.
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but they have 1 thing in common they affect some or all of our senses, Images/paintings stimulate our eyes, music our ears and films (mostly) both of them
[13:37] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): we are different to everyone
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yum
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): them
[13:38] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): there interpretation of ourselves
[13:38] herman Bergson: lol CB :-)
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa yes that too
[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): it's called stomach art CB:)
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): very special:)
[13:38] theo Velde is offline.
[13:38] herman Bergson: It makes you now a piece of art CB for your words create a longing for a piece of pizza in me :-))
[13:39] CB Axel: LOL
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hahahah
[13:39] CB Axel: I'm a piece of something alright.
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): guess what i had for lunch today
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and i have leftovers
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well surely i guess creating the ultimate in taste is also art
[13:39] herman Bergson: Mail them to me Gemma....
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): to me it goes as that
[13:39] CB Axel: Pizza lies flat for easy shipping.
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): no way
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): haha
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): id say art = using your creativity to stimulate others senses
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or your own
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): including i guess taste as well
[13:40] herman Bergson: I guess we should continue our discussion after next lecture on Susan Sontag......
[13:40] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): thank u for having me but now i want pizza
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ok
[13:40] ღ Ĉarma ღ (carma.caerndow): love ya bye
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe me too
[13:41] herman Bergson: She really has an interesting opinion
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and that red ale i have left in the fridge
[13:41] CB Axel: I'm getting cookies from Schmackary's tomorrow.
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): what did you think of the euro elections herman?
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but id stuffed mysef with bbq before today at a friends place
[13:41] herman Bergson: That's something special CB?
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): was also tasty
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but weather was windy and rain but had a nice time anyway
[13:42] CB Axel: It is for me. Their only shop is in NY city
[13:42] herman Bergson: The EURO Elections....
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:42] herman Bergson: I'd say they went quite well....
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): better than expected
[13:42] herman Bergson: first of all more voters than ever before showed up...
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): good on that
[13:43] CB Axel: Excellent! What inspired them to show up?
[13:43] herman Bergson: second......the extreme right didn't win that much at all
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right!!
[13:43] herman Bergson: and leftwing and green parties won more than expected
[13:43] herman Bergson: parties
[13:43] CB Axel: That is good news.
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i need to read on the green parties
[13:44] herman Bergson: Yes....it wasn't shocking or worrisome
[13:44] CB Axel: I just saw a headline today about how the whole world seems to be moving to the right.
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:44] CB Axel: It's good to hear that might not be the case.
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): been watching that too
[13:44] herman Bergson: With the Euro elections it was not the case....
[13:45] herman Bergson: And this global move to the right.....I think it is driven by fear
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): of color and difference
[13:45] herman Bergson: right wing politicians always come with definite answers and solutions
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and closed minds
[13:46] herman Bergson: people love the dominant and all knowing father figure
[13:46] CB Axel: I listened to an interesting podcast the other day about how liberal and conservative brains work differently.
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh yes
[13:46] CB Axel: They respond differently to the same stimuli.
[13:46] herman Bergson: is a classic
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): not only work but LOOK different
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): physically
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): there are differences
[13:47] herman Bergson: yes I know about that research :-)
[13:47] CB Axel: https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i brought it up seveal years ago with links
[13:48] CB Axel: I don't know if you can listen in all countries, but look for the audio called More Divided Than Ever?
[13:48] herman Bergson: I have a memory that we even discussed this here in class years ago
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): correct
[13:48] CB Axel: Yes. That was probably the same study.
[13:48] herman Bergson: yes...think so :-)
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki
[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i can't open that site CB
[13:48] herman Bergson: Was in the project The mystery of the Brain
[13:49] CB Axel: Ah. Too bad. It must just be available in the US. If you ever use a VPN, try signing into a US site.
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i got in after accepting the usual GDPR
[13:50] herman Bergson: I can Beertje
[13:50] herman Bergson: https://edge2.pod.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/hiddenbrain/2019/05/20190527_hiddenbrain_hb_rad_31_-_more_divided_than_ever__-_pod_5-27-19_v3.mp3/20190527_hiddenbrain_hb_rad_31_-_more_divided_than_ever__-_pod_5-27-19_v3.mp3_5a5e1ae73a167001b7be3d0e27e19723_50659266.mp3?orgId=1&topicId=1007&aggIds=423302056&d=3173&p=510308&story=724999235&t=podcast&e=724999235&siteplayer=true&size=50659245&awCollectionId=510308&awEpisodeId=724999235&dl=1&hash_redirect=1&x-total-bytes=50659266&listeningSessionID=0CD_382_149__ca4f1d2c442d52e7ff7d2b4f33f277e54ab02880
[13:50] herman Bergson: try that one Beertje
[13:51] herman Bergson: We're a bit off topic...so a good moment to dismiss class :-)
[13:51] herman Bergson: Thank you all again :-)
[13:51] CB Axel: Thank you, Herman.
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well cu next time
[13:52] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman:)
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): bye for now
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i like him
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i have to fun too
[13:52] CB Axel: Bye until next week. :)
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): bye
