READING:
Mirzoeff, Chapter 6: The Changing World
2 quotes and a 1 paragraph explanation of the main points of the chapter that you will share in class
"Globalization is not a set of developments that just happen, nor is it a uniform process that affects everyone in the same way. Rather, it is a set of uneven and sometimes contradictory practices, products, and ideas that must be understood in terms of their local, regional, and national contexts." Mirzoeff emphasizes that globalization is a complicated process in this quotation. Instead, it is a multilayered, intricate process that is influenced by a variety of variables, including politics, society, and economy. He also emphasizes that not everyone will experience globalization's consequences in the same way because they can differ based on the precise context in which they take place. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend globalization as a complex and varied phenomenon that cannot be summed up in a single story.
"The emerging global culture is not a homogeneous, all-encompassing culture, but rather a dynamic and multifaceted realm in which diverse cultures come into contact and sometimes conflict with one another."
In this passage, Mirzoeff challenges the notion that globalization produces a single, homogenous global culture. Instead, he contends that as various cultures interact and trade ideas, goods, and practices, the growing global culture is marked by diversity and complexity. Additionally, he understands that this process of cultural interchange might result in conflict because various groups may have competing goals and beliefs. As a result, he emphasizes the significance of comprehending the complexity of cultural interchange in a globalized world as well as the diverse and dynamic nature of global culture.
READ ONLINE (all of these should be available without subscription):
Amy Sherald
on her Breonna Taylor portrait
https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2020/08/amy-sherald-on-making-breonna-taylors-cover-portrait
2 quotes
"I was thinking about Breonna Taylor, her life mattered, and I felt honored to have the opportunity to paint her portrait... This image reclaims a space of honor, celebration, and representation."
Amy Sherald, the artist who painted Breonna Taylor's portrait, describes her thoughts and objectives in this quotation. She is honored to have the chance to produce a portrait that can serve as a monument to Taylor's memory and acknowledges the importance of Taylor's life and the tragedy of her passing. Taylor and other Black women whose lives have historically been devalued and excluded from traditional art settings are among those whose lives are being celebrated by Sherald, who is also stressing the significance of representation.
"In the absence of justice for Breonna Taylor, I was compelled to participate in this project because I believe that art has the power to transform our hearts and minds, and to impact the world in ways that words alone cannot."
Amy Sherald Effect
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/09/23/the-amy-sherald-effect
2 quotes
"Sherald was making a declaration: she had arrived, fully formed, and was going to be taking up space on her own terms."
The author of this quote is expressing the influence Amy Sherald had when she burst onto the art world with her distinctive and striking portraits. Sherald was defying the conventions of portraiture and reinventing what it means to depict Blackness in art by painting portraits of African Americans with gray skin tones and plain backgrounds. The author is highlighting the fact that Sherald was asserting her own identity and vision as an artist rather than trying to fit into pre-existing ideas of what an artist should be or do.
"Sherald has become known for creating portraits that suspend black life in a state of possibility and grace."
The author of this quote is outlining the characteristics that contribute to Sherald's art's power and effect. Sherald is able to concentrate on the faces and bodies of her subjects while portraying their personalities and feelings with sensitivity and nuance by adopting a limited color scheme and simple backdrops. The author emphasizes how Sherald's portraits include not only Black bodies but also a feeling of dignity and possibility that matches the real-life experiences of the subjects she paints. Sherald's work is viewed as a way to validate the humanity of her characters while also honoring Black life.
Kehinde Wiley
The Exquisite Dissonance of Kehinde Wiley
(be sure to listen to the 8minute audio interview)
https://www.npr.org/2015/05/22/408558234/the-exquisite-dissonance-of-kehinde-wiley
2 quotes
"I want to project a different kind of imagery into the world. I want to see people who look like me on the walls of museums, on the walls of cafes, and not just in a historical context but also in a contemporary context."
In this quotation, artist Kehinde Wiley explains the inspiration behind his distinctive portrait painting style. Wiley is contesting the historical exclusion of Black people from the canon of Western art by painting current African Americans in the manner of conventional European portraiture. He promotes increased Black visibility and representation in art, both historically and currently, and aims to challenge established hierarchies of power by integrating Black bodies into settings from which they have typically been excluded.
"I am in a conversation with the artists who came before me and the artists who are around me right now. And that conversation is about the way in which we as African Americans are seen in the world, and more importantly, the way in which we are seeing ourselves."
Wiley discusses the greater environment in which his art exists in this quotation. He seeks to contribute to a bigger cultural discourse about Black identity and agency and sees his work as a part of one regarding the representation of Black people in art. Wiley acknowledges the history of Black exclusion from traditional art settings while simultaneously affirming the existence and dignity of Black people in modern culture by posing his subjects in a manner that is reminiscent of historical portraiture.
Black masculinity
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/kehinde-wiley-on-painting-president-obama-michael-jackson-and-the-people-of-ferguson
2 quotes
"What I'm doing is creating alternative narratives of empowerment. It's not about creating a dogmatic representation of power, but it's about creating a new concept of what power looks like, and it is coming from the street."
In this quotation, artist Kehinde Wiley explains how he approaches making art that questions established power structures. In his opinion, portraying African Americans in positions usually reserved for historical European figures fosters the development of a new conception of power that is grounded in Black people's lived experiences. Wiley challenges established power systems and develops a fresh story of empowerment for underserved groups by depicting his people in a way that is typically reserved for white elites.
"I am not interested in the repetition of a world that I know is doomed to failure. And, more important, I am not interested in creating a world that would be doomed to failure for my nephew or for your children."
Wiley uses this quotation to explain why he makes work that questions the status quo. He wants to establish a new society where his nephew and future generations may prosper rather than continuing the same power and representation structures that have historically excluded Black people. Through the development of a new visual language, Wiley's work is thought to contribute to the development of a more just and equitable society by challenging how we view ourselves and our community.
No comments:
Post a Comment