Ways in which contemporary art history engages with issues of difference in class, power, culture, etc - Essay Example

Ways in which contemporary art history engages with issues of difference in power, culture, gender, sexuality, ethni or, creed. Word Count: 3265. Page Count: 11. Contemporary art history looks at the current trend in art of the recent past including that which is currently at disposal. Art involves an expression, which can also be an application, of creative skill and imagination especially through a visual medium such as painting or sculpture. People have treated such works in more different way each fielding an opinion about such works that seem completely different from the others. It is in this sense that there has been a reaction and perception of art from different groups of individuals. This groups would compare to class, power, culture, gender, sexuality, ethnicity or, creed. Looking closely to this groups, they have developed a number of opinions and reactions of people unique to their kind.1 Artwork is, therefore, a good mirror of the social setting in a particular society since the Artisans work is a social work. Class has developed a number of issues when it comes to art. A class is a category of individuals having some properties in common differentiated from others by kind or quality. It means people that have been bound by similar setting different from others giving them a distinct difference from others and collectively showing similar behaviours also inclusive of their social status. In this light, a class can include religious class, social class and also a political class. In recent past, religious class grasps to ideas that favour their mannerism and whatsoever most of them would be conservative of their ways. Art mostly includes creatively displaying imaginative ideas that, for instance, may involve drawing, carving or coming up with expressions such as nude figures or distorted ones that would collide with the values of a class engulfed in religion. Truly enough, a state entitled or having a Muslim or a Christian following would largely condemn art involving nude figures as it seems to be a violation of their religious exposure. A class that is more influential would favour or hamper art development as they would have the final say to nail the idea or exalt the idea. The political class would be cautious to tread in the ways of their subjects especially in a society that practices democratic election in order to win the hearts of their followers. In such a class, it would be of high awakening to mind the kind of art you’re to come with.2 Secondly, power plays an important role in engaging of contemporary art history. The players on this ground would look on to the fact that they can be able to control some aspects into play. For instance, people in government having power at their disposal would luckily hamper or make succeed an art idea. Through, its interactive influence of encouraging certain trends in art to go through can present a huge success to art. In such a way, this players can be manipulative to their subjects bringing in the idea of superiority and such make such items of art be associated with such individuals. Such undertaking can see some development of art trends go through successively. More importantly, is not only the political angle that alone make such a success. There are people with influence though not entitled to any position in the societal leadership. The influencers help market art and the people readily digest their notions. If in any way such influences make a contrary argument to a given set of art, it conclusively alludes that such an idea cannot be adopted. In the backyard too are the religious players having influence on their following. Being perceived as figures of wisdom by their following, they can have a greater hand in their following’s perception and judgement on art items. Power plays a major role in art trends. Closely enough, less economic power, political or religious power can authoritatively hinder art developers in projecting their art to the masses. The approval and acceptance of such art are at stake and power can match up to influence in what this art can accomplish.3 Another major play in bringing out how contemporary art history engages in various is culture. A culture would mean the arts and manifestation of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. Culture would involve what has been the general run of things around a collective group of people and their perception of things. People have been brought up in different cultures, and this influences their thinking more often making such people display ideas in art that would not be questionable to their people. All along there are cultures that have had a positive response to art appreciating virtually every kind of art? In such a setting, people are free to choose and engage in imagination and come up with art having not to worry about harsh criticism from the rest. There are other instances of culture though that lack an all free pass to the art, and this means that the art would either present the noble ideas of state or the generally fit in the conscience of the majority. Also in play is the ability of such art to be portable to the rest of the world as now reachability to the rest of the world would be vital in the success of art. Therefore, it would be of great concern to engage the absorption of this art to the culture of the people. A question that would also be presented is whether a group under consideration have a history in art appreciation. It is in this also we would look at liberal and flexibility of people’s thinking that we can use to judge the exposure of art. A touch in dependability of culture would vital, and concern that people are not glued to an attachment in culture can be key in either bringing forward the success or altogether halt it.4 Gender refers to the state of being male or female. A closer look in response of gender to art reveals that there has been a perception in how gender is portrayed in art. Most art like drawings of women barely having no clothes on has sparked a general judgement that it exalts and would present forms of prostitution. Having such art in places like "salon" has not been well appreciated, and this means that those art has been hampered sparkling people to be more cautious in their involvement in erotic art. Ideally, women have been objects of ridicule and in more victims of criticism when it comes to creative arts involving them. It has become critical to be cautious to present art that does not put such gender into public scrutiny. However, the male gender has shown a thrill in this art and arguably seem favourable to them. A closer look presents us with ideally another ground on the receiving of art in this genders. An interest to art has been shown more by the female gender a case that has seen them be customers and huge supporters of art. In such, developments have been made to favour their judgement more and also takes into account of their ability to negotiate with their male counterparts.5 Male involvement in art has also been a tool to shape their behaviours and as so has been a tool to make people behave in certain ways. A creative art on peoples clothing, setting, pose and also appearance that looks attractive would influence genders to buy the idea. Women have shown an interest in seeing art as a tool to better their appearance and look thereby theirs has been an identity with the physical look. Interesting is the part that an art makes women display an outlook of superiority in influential behaviour and their craving of displaying a unique identity in their surroundings. As such, this has encouraged new ideas in the art industry to communicate a value both applicable and influential.6 On the other hand though, male gender have shown a tendency to attach meaning to the art in essence to represent a former aspect or just to make them remember a place, somebody, an instance or a relationship. Males have shown a unique character in letting this art have a representation in regard to their inner feelings. Thereby, they would identify with art that presents an idea of wellbeing, hope when hopeless, and also companion when lonely. Sexuality has also become a category of its own when we delve to the idea of contemporary art history with issues of difference. Sexuality would refer to an individual’s sexual preference or orientation. As time has progressed, many artists have shown an interest in presenting nudity in their artwork. For instance, artists that involve in obscene art have had much criticism and rejection of their artwork especially by the political class. There is a presentation that has presented an immoral ground and questions raised about their moral authority. In other instances, such works have sparkled defiance as people question their overall depiction as one that defy moral fabric of society. Government at times has had to intervene and involve in discouraging some of the artwork. For instance, when artists start engaging in works condoning a gay behaviour in a state that is against it, we are sure enough that this may lead to prosecution or even though being subjected to hostility to your works as an artist. Others have had to present a work that is taboo to a start, and this may call for restriction in a less democratic matured state. Such hindrance has led in other artists being outright defiant and others taking a neutral ground in fear of being put to spotlight. Currently, there has been an issue of even other governments cutting support financially to this industry and in response some take to protests by even greatly engaging in a more serious situation of violation to what was earlier a course of alarm.7 A taboo based art, and morally questionable art has to be considerably checked into as overall it would encourage unacceptable conduct or depiction to people and more even it would hamper youngsters involvement in art. As much as we would like to cultivate good behaviour, sexually provocative art should take into account on response to character development. It is in this ground that it has become important to be concerned on art as, not just a tool to display imaginative prowess, but also to inculcate acceptable feeling of noble course in the consumers mind. Ethnicity has had to mean a lot when it comes to contemporary art history with issues of difference. In simple terms, an ethnicity refers to the fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or culture tradition. Ethnicity then would present a sense of collective behaviour and judgement and more, so these groups make a mark in todays art history. People from certain ethnic group would have their preference in art, and their imagination would range from a number of things they are exposed to.8 A state having different ethnic groups has to protect each group as such art can be used to attack each other’s side of thinking, association and social life threatening a society sense of security. Art used irresponsibly to attack another ethnic group has sparkled a series of protest and as such sometimes art has been used to settle scores. Art, however, has found its way in helping identify people to the preference of their art. Certain aspects of art have been attributed to specific groups of people and as such it has presented a sense of belonging to a particular ethnic group. Ethnicity has been key in developing art that helps to retain social fabric through its sharing among people thereby helping individuals find grounds to interact and share ideas. Art has become a powerful tool in judging social response to the idea and through art, it has become evident to share constructively ideas in a less confronting way. Ethnicity has aided in a variety of artwork and thus has helped diversify its scope and use. Ethnicity has helped in shaping the world all over in the need to explore art in this groups, and this presents a noble idea that every ethnic group has something to offer in art. Unique ideas at disposal from each ethnic group has helped people celebrate each others idea bearing in mind that each has something unique that no one else can be able to offer.9 Finally, creed similarly puts something forward in the analysis of contemporary art history. Creed is a system of religious belief or faith. Religious beliefs have been vital in respect to art in todays history. For instance, the church has embraced of late designs that have been fruits of art thereby encouraging an innovativeness. Their involvement in coming up with even drawings to depict their religious history has seen artists work on some of these art projects in the church. Churches preference to use objects of art to represent their religious authority symbolically has had a significant breakthrough in todays art. Interestingly, the church is using art to encourage people live in ways that depict Christianity through art. However, the church has been critical on some of the art categories that contradict with their teachings. For instance, some religion has stood to condone tattoos as being unethical and contradictory to their teaching and so has had to condemn such acts to their followers. Such acts have seen the failure of manoeuvre of art in tight religious places. Also of consideration is the art that involves issues such as nudity. The portrayal of half-naked women and men in the art has increased the sense of morality that most-religious organisation has proclaimed association and shown unwillingness to market such ideas. As such, religious association makes it hard for people of such setting to involve in any way in such kind of art. Though creed has offered a line of acceptance to art, such art must rightfully be prepared to represent the ideas of such a religious setting or otherwise face rejection. Religion follows a teaching, a value unique to its kind and does not in any way present a neutral ground. Art would arguably be true to come up with art that presumes a sense of maturity to the religious world if such people are to interact with our art because it is an all-inclusive way of life to most people. Trending in daring art would otherwise lead to criticism from religious groups that would see a violation of their ways. Sometimes artists have had their worst times when they engage in creatively displaying a character in some sense of humour or in other way to communicate some meaning in media. Such sees some of the artists being sued or killed in radical societies. It is essential to conclude that irrespective of course art wishes to present it is of the best interest to considerably check on creed so as not to cause irreparable damage and too not losing its touch to representing its imaginative touch. Evidently, art has had a role to play in making sure that it becomes a tool to educate, thrill and inspire while still taking into account the need to cause satisfaction and acceptance across board as far as creed is concerned. In conclusion, contemporary art history has shown a general trend in involvement with issues of difference such as gender, sexuality, power, class, creed, culture and ethnicity. It has not been working in isolation and virtually in every instance, the issues of difference take a hand in one way or the other. It means that a successful art trend would be one that explores all this ground to come with a masterpiece that would not only thrill a small section of the masses, but more so present an overall acceptance across board. Looking at the major art that has had its way, there has been an identification to certain kinds of people depending with the issues of difference. Less often though, there has been a dramatic change in perception of art daily evolving to the greater level of imaginative nature and more so people are starting to appreciate most of the art categories regardless of their line of imagination. Trying to understand the idea put forward has shown a remarkable prowess in the human mind. Art has made a class of its making people be able to raise money and actively engage in more complex art. It has been vital in changing the world in areas of thinking, perception, association and ideally. The portability of such and identity of art in association to people has shaped the idea of uniqueness. Liberalism being shown by people nowadays has had to see people engage in limitless art. As such, art is not just a simple creative work. It carries along so much information and thereby would communicate more easily than thousands of words would do. In its communication, it carries the ability to communicate hundreds of ideas woven in a single project and it is in this ease that the art is the becoming more appreciated. Art has enabled people to share their works actively across boundaries through its uniqueness and identity associated with this has to be long protected and bettered. It is of great concern too to see to it that todays art focuses on exalting the positive parts of our side and vehemently criticizing the ugly part of human behaviour. At our disposal is a tool to construct and at this expense art should be protected, and people involved in art be encouraged to do more than any ordinary mind. It is also noticeable to see that art doesnt work in isolation. Over time, its value becomes better. Art has enabled in tracing of historical tendencies and behaviours as it is an immemorial tool in preserving the history of the people. Bibliography Chong, Derrick. Understanding International Art Markets And Management. New York: Routledge, 2005. Clark, Timothy J. PRELIMINARIES TO A POSSIBLE TREATMENT OFOLYMPIAIN 1865. New york: the University of Ulster, 2013. Gikandi, Simon. "Picasso, Africa and the Schemata of Difference." Modernism/Modernity (2003): 455-480. Isaak, Jo Anna. Feminism and Contemporary Art: The Revolutionary Power of Womens Laughter. New York: Routledge, 2002. Jacob, Mary Jane and Michael Brenson. Conversations at the Castle: Changing Audiences and Contemporary Art. New York: MIT, 1998. Lippard, Lucy. Overlay: Contemporary Art and the Art of Prehistory. London: The New Press, 1995. Mitchell, Claudine. "Camille Claudel, The Fin de Siecle Sculptress." Intellectuality and Sexuality (1989): 418-447. Morse, Nuala. Contemporary Art or Heritage: Devices for Public Engagement with the Past and the Present. 6 June 2011. Internet. 10 August 2014. Read More