Offenses to Images…..continuedOffenses to Images…..continued

Destruction & Loss as Destruction & Loss as Forms of CommunicationForms of Communication (“preserving what is (“preserving what is valued” also may valued” also may destruction & loss of destruction & loss of what is NOT valued)what is NOT valued)Discussion of term Discussion of term assignments, handing out assignments, handing out quizzes & short reportsquizzes & short reports

Social Studies of the Social Studies of the Rejection and Destruction of Rejection and Destruction of

Artworks--Artworks--

Social Studies of the Social Studies of the Rejection and Destruction of Rejection and Destruction of

Artworks--Artworks--

Moving beyond Vandalism and Iconoclasm Moving beyond Vandalism and Iconoclasm to an analysis of the diverse meanings of to an analysis of the diverse meanings of the rejection of artworks--the rejection of artworks--

Identity issues in the practice Identity issues in the practice of the arts of the arts

Inclusion/cohesionInclusion/cohesion– Art as expression of identity, difference Art as expression of identity, difference

(distinction)(distinction) exclusionexclusion

– Discriminatory Dimensions of Artistic Discriminatory Dimensions of Artistic Practices & InstitutionsPractices & Institutions

– Censorship and/or DemocratizationCensorship and/or Democratization

Censorship as an outcome of Censorship as an outcome of democratizationdemocratization

artists’ (& minority publics’) rights toartists’ (& minority publics’) rights to– “ “self-expression” or self-expression” or – freedom of speech (1st Amendment)freedom of speech (1st Amendment)

VS. public’s rights & government’s duties to VS. public’s rights & government’s duties to enforce standardsenforce standards

issues-- what standards, whose standards?issues-- what standards, whose standards?

Key issues in Democratization Key issues in Democratization debatesdebates

public’s rights & public funding public’s rights & public funding (access,control, taste)(access,control, taste)

““levels” of knowledge & tasteslevels” of knowledge & tastes artist’s rights & responsibility to be “leaders” in artist’s rights & responsibility to be “leaders” in

society society

Diversity & Activism : Why?Diversity & Activism : Why?

To raise public awarenessTo raise public awareness Fund-raisingFund-raising political & legal changepolitical & legal change

Debates about Arts activities Debates about Arts activities for populations “at risk”?for populations “at risk”?

Arts for arts sake?Arts for arts sake? ““emancipatory self expression”? emancipatory self expression”? social service? social service?

– Arts for Moral improvement? Carceral methods? Arts for Moral improvement? Carceral methods? (comfort, reform, “normalize”)(comfort, reform, “normalize”)

– Arts and healing?r Arts and healing?r propaganda?propaganda?

Rejection and Destruction of Rejection and Destruction of Artworks--Artworks--

diverse meanings of the diverse meanings of the disappearance & rejection of disappearance & rejection of artworks—artworks—

Forms of destruction & loss of Forms of destruction & loss of artistic heritageartistic heritage

NeglectNeglect Unplanned degenerationUnplanned degeneration AccidentsAccidents WarWar ‘‘progress’progress’ Planned disappearance (sometimes by artists Planned disappearance (sometimes by artists

or creators)or creators) Iconoclasm & vandalismIconoclasm & vandalism

Impermanent Impermanent materialsmaterials

Ephemeral ArtEphemeral Art (ex. Land Art) (ex. Land Art)

New Approaches to Multiples: New Approaches to Multiples: Bruce Nauman’s neonsBruce Nauman’s neons

Why isn’t everything kept? --The Why isn’t everything kept? --The social context of collective social context of collective memorymemory

Personal Personal (family) Networks & Values(family) Networks & Values CommunityCommunity-based criteria-based criteria Other factors Other factors (sometimes concurrent)(sometimes concurrent)

– Scholarly Scholarly – PoliticalPolitical– EconomicEconomic– Moral & ethicalMoral & ethical– Class-based (elite, popular) agendas etc….Class-based (elite, popular) agendas etc….

Variations in meaning over timeVariations in meaning over time

Vandalism vs. iconoclasmVandalism vs. iconoclasm

Iconoclasm : deliberate destruction of Iconoclasm : deliberate destruction of images rooted in religious, political or images rooted in religious, political or other socio-cultural beliefsother socio-cultural beliefs– Ex. Ex. Destruction of 3rd c. A.D. Buddhas by Taleban in Afghanistan

completed March 12, 2002completed March 12, 2002

Fuseli: Fuseli: Artist weepingArtist weeping

in despair in despair …. …. diverse diverse meanings of the meanings of the disappearance & disappearance & rejection of rejection of artworksartworks Vandalism vs. Vandalism vs. IconoclasmIconoclasm

•VandalistVandalists: s: ignorant, ignorant, senselesssenseless•IconoclastIconoclasts: s: deliberate deliberate opposition, opposition, “rationale” “rationale” grounded in grounded in system of system of valuesvalues

Iconoclasm-- ReligiousIconoclasm-- Religious Iconoclasm : deliberate destruction of images Iconoclasm : deliberate destruction of images

rooted in religious, political or other socio-cultural rooted in religious, political or other socio-cultural beliefsbeliefs– Ex. Ex. Destruction of 3rd c. A.D. Buddhas by Taleban in Afghanistan completed completed

March 12, 2002March 12, 2002

Iconoclasm: Afghanistan Iconoclasm: Afghanistan Buddha (partly destroyed)Buddha (partly destroyed)

Close-up Afghanistan Buddha Close-up Afghanistan Buddha (bombing)(bombing)

Iconoclasm—Iconoclasm—Political :StalinPolitical :Stalin

Iconoclasm: UnitasIconoclasm: Unitas

VandalismVandalism

SenselessSenseless– Vandals as idiotsVandals as idiots– Goya: Goya:

No sabe No sabe que haceque hace

LesueurLesueur

Vandals as sillyVandals as silly

Censorship and controversies Censorship and controversies as social “devices”as social “devices”for recognitionfor recognition

Case study: Case study: Rachel Rachel Whiteread’s 1993 Whiteread’s 1993 HouseHouse and and the awarding of the “X-the awarding of the “X-prize”prize”

““House” &House” & 1993 Turner 1993 Turner

PrizePrize

X-prize X-prize JAMS, Kopyright JAMS, Kopyright Liberation Front Liberation Front (KLF)K Foundation, (KLF)K Foundation,

--Jimmy Cuaty &--Jimmy Cuaty & Bill DrummondBill Drummond -Brit Awards -Brit Awards

X-prize adsX-prize ads

Armoured carsArmoured cars

X-prize award nightX-prize award night

Award nightAward night

moremore

Actual prizeActual prize

Meaning of prizeMeaning of prize

Mocking?Mocking?– contemporary artcontemporary art– competition systemcompetition system– Authority of judgesAuthority of judges– Money vs. sincerityMoney vs. sincerity– Value of particular artworkValue of particular artwork

Other events (musicians market art made of Other events (musicians market art made of money for ½ value of materials)money for ½ value of materials)

Cauty earlier workCauty earlier work

Reputations Reputations & controversy& controversy

Whiteread: young artist, Whiteread: young artist, strong career sincestrong career since

Interior before castingInterior before casting

Whiteread working on siteWhiteread working on site

Completed work– distance Completed work– distance shotshot

Social Issues/contradictionsSocial Issues/contradictions

Former hold-out (elderly) convinced to sell for Former hold-out (elderly) convinced to sell for art monumentart monument

Solidarity with homeless but Stopping low-Solidarity with homeless but Stopping low-rent housing projectrent housing project

Financed with public funds and donation from Financed with public funds and donation from company believed guilty of destruction of company believed guilty of destruction of neightbourhoods & natural habitatsneightbourhoods & natural habitats

Another viewAnother view

Publicity & bookPublicity & book

Critics Discourse– Critics Discourse–

AestheticsAesthetics links to major links to major

monuments of art monuments of art history (ex.Atrium history (ex.Atrium House Pompei)House Pompei)

Feminist metaphor etc.Feminist metaphor etc.

British fondness of homeBritish fondness of home

Wind in the Willows imageWind in the Willows image

Is it art criticism?Is it art criticism?

Public OutragePublic Outrage

Mocking newstoriesMocking newstories

SquattersSquatters

Graffiti/VandalismGraffiti/Vandalism

Homes for allHomes for all black and whiteblack and white

Paint splashPaint splash

Incomprehension (budget Incomprehension (budget house)house)

Destruction of HouseDestruction of House

DestructionDestruction

Social “functions” of Social “functions” of controversy & destructioncontroversy & destruction In this example: In this example: Recognition processes in art worlds Recognition processes in art worlds

– reputation of artists– but 2 different “aesthetics” techno-rave reputation of artists– but 2 different “aesthetics” techno-rave music world & high culture visual art worldmusic world & high culture visual art world

– Value of works (effect of prizes, important collector Saatchi Value of works (effect of prizes, important collector Saatchi etc.)etc.)

Opportunities for public engagement—Opportunities for public engagement—– Debates about key issuesDebates about key issues

Poverty, homelessness etc.Poverty, homelessness etc.

InternationallyInternationally– Varied debates: Status of different national groups, questions of Varied debates: Status of different national groups, questions of

world heritage vs. community or national basis for “ownership”world heritage vs. community or national basis for “ownership”

SubsequentSubsequent success of success of artist Whitereadartist Whiteread

In museumsIn museums

Prestigous commissions; Prestigous commissions; Holocaust memorialHolocaust memorial

MusiciansMusicians

Financial difficulties, court case (defacing Financial difficulties, court case (defacing image of queen– by hammering bills to panel)image of queen– by hammering bills to panel)

““***K the millenium”– theme song for 1998 ***K the millenium”– theme song for 1998 world cupworld cup

Case Study about censurship Case Study about censurship and controversies (Rachel and controversies (Rachel

Whiteread’s 1993 Whiteread’s 1993 HouseHouse and and the awarding of the “X-the awarding of the “X-

prize”)prize”)

““House” &House” & 1993 Turner 1993 Turner

PrizePrize

X-prize X-prize JAMS, Kopyright JAMS, Kopyright Liberation Front Liberation Front (KLF)K Foundation, (KLF)K Foundation,

--Jimmy Cuaty &--Jimmy Cuaty & Bill DrummondBill Drummond -Brit Awards -Brit Awards

X-prize adsX-prize ads

Armoured carsArmoured cars

X-prize award nightX-prize award night

Award nightAward night

moremore

Actual prizeActual prize

Meaning of prizeMeaning of prize

Mocking?Mocking?– contemporary artcontemporary art– competition systemcompetition system– Authority of judgesAuthority of judges– Money vs. sincerityMoney vs. sincerity– Value of particular artworkValue of particular artwork

Other events (musicians market art made of Other events (musicians market art made of money for ½ value of materials)money for ½ value of materials)

Cauty earlier workCauty earlier work

ReputationReputations s & & controverscontroversyy

Whiteread: young artist, Whiteread: young artist, strong career sincestrong career since

Interior before castingInterior before casting

Whiteread working on siteWhiteread working on site

Completed work– distance Completed work– distance shotshot

Social Issues/contradictionsSocial Issues/contradictions

Former hold-out (elderly) convinced to sell for Former hold-out (elderly) convinced to sell for art monumentart monument

Solidarity with homeless but Stopping low-Solidarity with homeless but Stopping low-rent housing projectrent housing project

Financed with public funds and donation from Financed with public funds and donation from company believed guilty of destruction of company believed guilty of destruction of neightbourhoods & natural habitatsneightbourhoods & natural habitats

Another viewAnother view

Publicity & bookPublicity & book

Critics Discourse– Critics Discourse–

AestheticsAesthetics links to major links to major

monuments of art monuments of art history (ex.Atrium history (ex.Atrium House Pompei)House Pompei)

Feminist metaphor etc.Feminist metaphor etc.

British fondness of homeBritish fondness of home

Wind in the Willows imageWind in the Willows image

Is it art criticism?Is it art criticism?

Public OutragePublic Outrage

Mocking newstoriesMocking newstories

SquattersSquatters

Graffiti/VandalismGraffiti/Vandalism

Homes for allHomes for all black and whiteblack and white

Paint splashPaint splash

Incomprehension (budget Incomprehension (budget house)house)

Destruction of HouseDestruction of House

DestructionDestruction

Social “functions” of Social “functions” of controversycontroversy Within art worlds Within art worlds

– reputation of artists– but 2 different “aesthetics” techno-reputation of artists– but 2 different “aesthetics” techno-rave music world & high culture visual art worldrave music world & high culture visual art world

– Value of works (effect of prizes, important collector Value of works (effect of prizes, important collector Saatchi etc.)Saatchi etc.)

In society—In society—– Debates about key issuesDebates about key issues

Poverty, homelessness etc.Poverty, homelessness etc.

InternationallyInternationally– Status of different national groupsStatus of different national groups

SubsequentSubsequent success of success of artist Whitereadartist Whiteread

In museumsIn museums

Prestigous commissions; Prestigous commissions; Holocaust memorialHolocaust memorial

MusiciansMusicians

Financial difficulties, court case (defacing Financial difficulties, court case (defacing image of queen– by hammering bills to panel)image of queen– by hammering bills to panel)

““***K the millenium”– theme song for 1998 ***K the millenium”– theme song for 1998 world cupworld cup