O'Brien and Szeman Critical Insight - Essay Example

? Introduction The concepts of contemporary art and popular culture are continuously transforming and metamorphosing into different concepts. This isinclusive of experimentation and transformations that are coming from cultural expressions and ideologies. The concepts by O’Brien and Szeman that relate to the different types of cultural expression further the new possibilities, specifically with the notions of hybridization in culture and in the expressions of contemporary art. This occurs with the ability to push the artistic works into new expressions by using the different techniques that are associated with the artwork. The result is the ability to create and define the cultural affiliations that are within the main structure of art. O’Brien and Szeman The concepts of O’Brien and Szeman show that there is a direct correlation between cultural expressions and the new possibilities within contemporary art. This begins with the understanding of techniques that are used with art and how this is beginning to transform. The first concept is related to ideas of language. In popular culture, this is beginning to transform, break down and alter into new expressions and ideologies. The approach taken is one which is defined specifically by new expressions that are combining disciplines. The idea of language is one which begins to move into concepts of how language can be expressed in visual arts, multimedia, dance and other concepts. Integrating this into artistic forms and developing a sense of hybridity allows individuals and the languages to move forward with specific concepts and to create a sense of understanding that moves outside of the traditional ideas of language and into something that is understood within popular culture. O’Brien and Szeman continue this concept with the ideas of signs, representation and discourse. The ideas of hybridity and ways in which these theories turn into new expressions lead into different areas of exploration. Popular culture, specifically with modern theories, associates directly with the understanding that there is a sense of breaking down the forms and theories that were before a part of the artistic expressions. Instead, the signs and representations become more important. Artistic works become a medium that one can express the different representations and ideas while the technique with the artwork becomes secondary. Instead of creating a representation that is based on a medium, the medium becomes a tool that is used with the representation or discourse that is being expressed. With this concept, one is able to combine different types of artistic works to move a step further with the representations that are being created. Critical Insight The concepts which are associated with O’Brien and Szeman are one of the leading changes that are occurring within the arts create questions based on how the popular culture and contemporary art turn into hybrid and interdisciplinary approaches. The concepts of hybridity that come from the main tools recognized by the two authors are only one of the components that are a part of creating interdisciplinary approaches to art. This is further transformed with ideas and representations which are based on exploration. The idea of exploration with the mediums and the arts as well as popular culture, is one of the defining points of art work. Without this, artists wouldn’t be able to create and express what is needed. The tools discussed then become a way to experiment and interchange the ideas of discourse, signs or language used with the techniques that are related to O’Brien and Szeman. The main concept which is associated with the theories is one which is based on ideas of expression and creation. The most important challenge that is created is one that is based on how art can move forward in both terms of experimentation and in popular culture. Using techniques, such as certain mediums, as well as combining this with different concepts of practices, is one that is now becoming secondary. The question which is being asked is related to the importance of what is being expressed. Telling a story, creating a mood and developing specific characteristics within the work becomes more important with the theories that are developed. This is combined with an understanding that the popular culture will respond more to the experimentation and the highlights with different mediums to create a specific expression. The concept of hybridization then becomes one that is developed with the idea of using mediums as techniques. With artistic works there is a division into two parts. The first is what wants to be expressed by the individual who is working with the artistic development and which is creating the specific effects. The second is related to the techniques that are being used with the art work and how this helps to represent the specific parts of the expression which is being used. The techniques and tools in the past were based on mastering and developing one medium to ensure that it worked effectively. Today, the boundaries and lines of different techniques are intertwining and disappearing. This is opening a new area of exploration with techniques that are able to relate to the expressions that are developed with the artwork which is being created. Conclusion The concept of hybrid and interdisciplinary concepts is one which is becoming a part of popular culture and relating to specific techniques. The ideas of language, signs and discourse are some of the techniques which are known in art and which create different approaches to how one expresses an ideology. The ideology and philosophies in art are now becoming the main concepts and approach which is associated with those who are using art. This is allowing the techniques and mediums to intertwine and blur boundaries while each of the types of art are being used together to create the specific expression needed. This particular concept is beginning to change and transform ideas of contemporary art as well as popular culture and how it looks at the different techniques which are used in artistic works. Introduction The idea of space is one which most consider as a practical area that is used for different activities or needs. However, there is more than this to the space that is inhabited and the associations which individuals have toward this. The link relates to the reflection which one has with the space in their own life and the symbolism which this creates. This moves even further into a presentation of the cultural and social expectations with space and how it is used in society. With these associations, there is an understanding of the importance of space as a reflection of the individual, culture and society. This continues with the space being used as an artistic expression that is able to reflect specific ideologies and philosophies about the current conditions which individuals have. Linking this to different philosophies creates a stronger association and understanding with what it means to be in a specific space. O’Brien and Szeman The concepts of O’Brien and Szeman relate directly to ideas of space and how this creates experience of the self. When looking at O’Brien and Szeman, there is a correlation to inhabited spaces and how this links to creative practice. The authors used direct associations with the language that is a part of the creative arts and what this means. Each of the areas which one inhabits and the spaces that are developed create a story about how one lives and what their association is to a specific area. This becomes important in defining the individual’s lifestyle, philosophies and direct relationships that occur both within the space and are affected by others. The language that is created with the space in which one inhabits then reflects the overall characteristics that are a part of their lifestyle. The second association with the space in which one lives is based on the signs and representations that are in a home. An example of this is the decor that one has in the home. Usually, these represent a specific symbol or message about the individual and relay a specific message to others that are in the home. This continues with sentimental meaning that may be a part of the decor which one is associated with. The representations are able to link to the space and to the individual, creating an experience that is a part of the area. By looking at the space in which one is in, there is also an understanding of the most valuable parts of the individual and what this represents. This can turn into creative practice by finding different parts of space and creativity that can help to represent deeper meanings and philosophies of the individual. The concept of space continues with the understanding of discourse and how this relates to the space which one is in. The discourse relates from everything from the practical needs to the symbolic concepts that are a part of society. Each of these creates a strong bond to the individual and their beliefs about life. The inhabited area which one lives in is directly related to the thoughts which one has and the associations which are a part of this. This continues with the popular culture and how there is a direct understanding of the area being a reflection of the individual. Popular culture is able to depict what artistic works look best and what expressions are considered a true part of one’s identity. The discourses link even further to media responses and other ideals in which one is able to present and which creates an identity that is related directly to society, culture and the way in which one represents the status expectations that are a part of society. Analysis The concept of space in society is often devalued and considered practical. Those who inhabit a specific area are often confined to looking at the space as a practical area which needs to be created for needs or wants of the individual. Looking beyond this is one which is often not considered or is overlooked for the needs of the individual. However, when looking at different philosophies and ideologies, it can be seen that the concept of space links beyond the main ideas of self and builds into creativity, philosophies and influences that come from the individual and from society. Re-examining the inhabitants space and looking at different components that are a part of this can help to establish different solutions and concepts that allow an individual to create different experiences or to associate more with the significance of space that is in the home. The quality of spaces that are inhabited can be looked at as an expression of the self. Symbolism, value and the different expressions which one creates all become relevant in the space that is created. The values which one has, sentiments that are created and the importance of one’s belief are all a part of the ideologies of space and the parts of belonging to the area with symbolic meaning. By representing this, there is an understanding of a different experience of any inhabited area. Instead of looking at space as one that is only for practical needs, there is the ability to expand the philosophies to one’s that are more creative and which are able to create different links and philosophies to the values and beliefs which one has. As this is done, one is able to create a different meaning for the space that they are in while helping to expand different ideologies and philosophies about life. New discourses can then be created about the space and the significance that it has in society. Conclusion The concept of space is one which is often looked at with practicality or with trends that were occurring with the creation. There is often a lack of value placed on the true ideologies that are behind space and what this means. Space is one that moves into philosophies and trends that have occurred artistically and through the popular concepts that are occurring within culture. These continue with different ideologies that one places with individual beliefs and sentiments that become symbolic representations in the space that they are in. The creation of each of these builds and develops different concepts and representations that then become important to an individual. Linking this knowledge to creative practice is one which also develops space in a different way. Instead of the basis being on practicality, creativity and links to philosophies and discourses can be used to create different spaces that propel forward specific ideologies. The result is one that allows new discourses to be presented with the way in which one approaches the area in which they are inhabiting. Read More