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We looked inside some of the posts by criticalpracticerbreckenridge and here's what we found interesting.
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Leonardo Da Vinci
Hatt, M. and Klonk, C. (2017). Art history : a critical introduction to its methods. Manchester: Manchester University Press. (701.18 HAT)
Freuds 1910 essay "Leonardi Da Vinci and a Memory of His Childhood" is a record of the artists early life and how it impacted his art.
Da Vinci’s sexuality, development and unconscious-wise is the foundation of the essay which is separated into 2 ideologies.
Freuds concern with how the past, the artists infancy, emerged in adulthood.
Freuds concern with the artists sexuality; exploring how this was shaped during his life that resulted in his paintings.
The essay holds a memory recorded by Da Vinci; “the artist recalled laying in his cradle as an infant, when a vulture swooped down and opened the baby’s mouth with its tail, shaking the tail against his lips.”
This account by the artist is another example of the unconscious taking centre stage, this isn’t a stable or believable “memory”, in fact the proper nomenclature would be “fantasy”. Freud proceeds to unpick the fantasy by suggesting that the vulture is a symbol of his mother as the primary action is suckling – as in breastfeeding. The mothers breast takes place of the vulture’s tail – but the tail still keeps its original form. A phallic shape. “Coda” = Italian slang for the male genitals, thus the fantasy being his mother with a phallic attachment. It should be mentioned that he lived alone with his mother. The presence of a father was absent. So, this makes room for Freuds theories about the erotic bonds between parent and child and boys castration anxiety to be applied. Plus, the possibility of Da Vinci being a homosexual. (Hatt and Klonk, 2017)
the close connection the artist had with his mother shows in the women's smiles in his art - the Mona Lisa has his mothers smile, also been sexualised too as well as being distant.
this allows him to relive infancy again with the view of his mothers face being eroticised. (Hatt and Klonk, 2007)
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More Freudian Theories
Hatt, M. and Klonk, C. (2017). Art history : a critical introduction to its methods. Manchester: Manchester University Press. (701.18 HAT)
Psychoanalysis was predominantly constructed to be a “talking therapy” by Freud to treat disturbing neurosis’ but has evolved to be a method that has ventured from the consultation room.
Psychoanalysis declares that our mental life differs from our conscious life; our consciousness holds faculties in
Imagination
Reason
Wondering
Thinking
Our minds are also conjoined with an unconscious (a key word in psychoanalysis) but Freud didn’t create nor discover this, but he produced a fundamental account of it. We also don’t have immediate or VIP access to our unconscious.
According to Freud, our unconscious was shaped from our childhood suppressions to appear acceptable to society, this includes traumatic events. Any mental material we have to deem as “unacceptable” in our conscious moves to our unconscious. It should be noted that the unconscious isn’t a mere wastebasket for our rejected material, it is an independently active entity, always trying to interrupt the conscious and boast its contents.
This is where a “Freudian Slip” occurs – or as we know as a slip of the tongue when trying to say one thing, but another completely different thing is said instead. Freud insists that no matter how much we label it, it is not serendipitous. This is the evidence of the ongoing conflict between the 2 consciousness’. The unconscious has successfully managed to sneak in a word in order to free a suppressed wish.
Another Freudian aspect of his theory is how many selves we actually have? Although we address our individual selves as “I” . . . should we really say “we” or “us”?
Freud also articulates that we are made up of many “selves”.
Our dreams always do come from somewhere in us – “a product of the mind” as dreams are branded. Yet, we are intrinsically taken aback and perplexed about what we are dreaming of as we are constantly trying to interpret them when we wake. This could be from one of the other selves who inhabit in the unconscious orchestrating narratives.
Art is no exception for the release of suppressed memories – the conscious is accompanied by marks of the unconscious. Art in psychoanalysis is to have the job of redirection – a dream expresses interior conflict; art is a method to further it. (Hatt and Klonk, 2007)
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Donald Kuspit and Henri Matisse
Harris, J. (2007). The new art history : a critical introduction. London: Routledge. (709HAR)
An extract i found from this book that i had found interesting.
Based on an essay that Kuspit wrote in 1989 "The Process of Idealisation of Women in Matisse's Art" Kuspit attempts to assemble his own as well as Freudian psychoanalytic concepts to make sense of Matisse’s paintings representing women. These paintings in question that were from a “primitivist” group done by Matisse around 1910.
Kuspit’s assumption of this group of paintings may show the artists general relationship to women – both women he knew being his mother and (ex)wife and women holding symbolic meaning for him.(Harris, 2007)
The above paintings (plus Gypsy 1906 and Nymph and Satyr 1909) seems to demonstrate Kuspit's ideology of Matisse's un and conscious attitudes towards women to be produces of sexual and maternal satisfaction. (Harris, 2007)
A Freudian aspect i pick up here is from the theory of boys being more into thier mothers and vice versa for girls into thier fathers (read anna d'leva)
There is also the small entrance for feminism to be incorporated here as this puts the (female) body on show, she is made to be a product of visual and physical pleasure. The gaze is always included with this.
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Psychoanalysis Lecture
This was a lecture i had most enjoyed from all of the lectures we previously had. think this may be the one i choose when it comes to dissertations
specific factors of the lecture relate to me and my current work are;
Automatism (recently been looking at automatic drawing, Bourgeois, L and Pollock, J)
how making are can be cathartic/healing
the incorporation of surrealism (one of my favourite movements)
Prior to beginning my degree course, i had done an online art therapy course with the Centre of Excellence where i had earned the Diploma. i would like to explore connections of how making art does help mental health, and to what extent and psychoanalysis.
in preparation for coming up to my proposal ill be reading more into factors regarding the theory and art making connections.
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Post-Colonial Pre-Lecture Research
(Info taken from online Centre of Excellence Art History course completed August 2022)
Anne D'Alleva, Methods and Theories of Art History, Chapter 5, pp109
Cultural Studies and postcolonial theory:
Race and postcolonial theory
Subaltern studies
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Postmodernism Task
The two images are digitally manipulated collages of photographs taken from pieces made for a separate module.
There was a number of factors that came to mind after making the images as to why they may be classed as post modern;
Pluralism, cross-disciplines, and an extent of ambiguity is embraced. Within the processes of making the actual pieces and the development to the images produced, there was a play of deconstructing to go with the original concept of abandoned buildings wasting away. my aim was to create my own world/vision of when nature has overtaken the world (Simulacrum could also be applied here)
Cross-disciplines were used from the physical creation of the pieces (as well as recyclable and found materials being involved)
Ambiguity is brought into play as to whether if something structural was there or if the overlapping of natural elements are being manipulative to the eye. This could maybe stretch to the opposing of structuralism?
The Missing Butterfly
this was just an extra that I came up with when I came across Frida Kahlo's "Broken Column". One of the many things i admire of Kahlo of how she always opened up to the vulnerability of putting her medical troubles in her art as well as events within her life.
there may be a chance of me not doing the whole "appropriation" thing right or haven't fully grasped it as of yet but its something i wanted to try regarding my lack of thyroid and how impactful it can be in life. i wanted to try putting myself in that vulnerable position.
this piece embraces old and new which i hope can class this as a postmodern.
my choice of colour scheme is reflective of the state of mind i can be in on my "bad days" or if med levels are unbalanced.
my mind is dulled. theres nothing to be excited about. i am sluggish.
everything is grey...
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Post Modernism - Extra Research
After having another re-read of the recommended pages of Methods & Theories of Art History, there were more things that began to make the the objective for the task clearer.
PM rejected "rigid truths and hierarchies" of modernism, instead it absorbed in the traditions that was turned away from modernism; Pastiche which employed a mix of elements and motifs and returned to the figurative and narrative.
PM was also connected to the pluralistic thought; the idea that there isn't a right way of viewing the world. Fragmentation of a subject replaces the alienation of the subject. modernism is characterised by a subject feeling alienated from the surroundings but they can still tell where the barrier is that separates them from the world
Fredric Jameson suggested that the subjects defragments develop because of the new ways of living in the world due to development in late capitalism.
Painting, sculpture and other media were disciplines used in PM - Late capitalism connected to the re-use and recycling of old images/objects.
Simulacrum - a copy without the original, no signified is attached to the signifier - there is no reality, no "thing" that the signifier can re-produce or represent.
the image IS the new reality and not a representation of it - Jean Baudrillard.
Lady Gaga is another good example for this - although it is a name of a real person who portrays her, that persons real birth name (Stefani Germanotta) is not Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga is more of an image made of make-up artists, PR technologies, image consultants, studio remixes and video manipulation.
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Post - Modernism
If i am honest regarding this theory, i felt i struggled to understand engage with it. When trying to connect and get into the online seminar there was difficulties which i think some may contribute to why i struggled understanding as there may have been a chunk i missed.
before approaching the task (due Dec 20) i will take on some external reading and sources to help solidify an understanding regarding post-Modernism.
all i did know about it before hand was when at the mention of Post-Modernism is Damien Hirst's Shark coming to mind - i do acknowledge that isn't near enough to know and explain Post-Modernism.
From looking back over the power-point i do understand the difference between the Structuralism of Modernism v - Post-Structuralism of Post-Modernism
The Post-Structuralism made me think of Surrealism from the promts of unstable meaning and non-universal but fictional structures. (Id rather research more into that incase I'm making a false narrative there)
a good example of the modernism could be Mondrian's Composition in Red, Blue and Yellow (1937-42) The work is crisp and neat. Everything is straight-lined and in order.
I also managed to note the strategies of Post-Modernism;
Pluralism - the fragmentation of a subject
Pastiche - Looks like a parody, more inspirational.
Simulacrum - creation of our own images which then becomes the new reality.
others were noted as part of thoughts;
Disneyland - despite having transport, shops, hotels, resturants/cafes etc like any other city in the world eg NYC, Edinburgh, Rome etc, Disneyland is a made up city. (Simulacrum? or maybe Pastiche as it is modeled after cities but its the place where everyone wants to go)
Madonna - Can't be the name on her birth certificate? (Simulacrum)
Rauschenbergs Monogram - finding things to break then make with (Pluralism)
Gogglebox - we watch people on our tvs, who are also watching tv....
This video on the post-lecture notes was beneficial. quite open to how almost anything these days could be classed as Post-Modern Art. Lady Gaga's Meat dress was a good example brought up.
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The ways of Seeing - John Berger
Essay 3
This essay made me think back to feminism as it talks about the differences of men and women, more specifically, how women constantly need to "survey themselves" about how they look, act etc as they are always under watch by men.
Their inner surveyer is male, because how they see themselves is how they will be seen by males.
I'm prompted to think back to the days where I'm growing up, being told to act/talk this way or not that way as what's considered as "ladylike" and feeling there is a connection.
There is a Intrinsic connection to feminism due to the mentions of the male gaze and the instant references to renaissance paintings of nude women who look at the spectator looking at them.
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Feminism Task
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2928465
Theorizing the Male Gaze: Some Problems.
After looking through articles for past interests within the theory i have chosen the male gaze and the influences on art. The article talks about how feminism describes the “male gaze” in art and the different types of gazes that exist from motifs or symbols used in art; objectification, fetishism, leering and how it seems that the woman is an object of the male's visual pleasure. It is also stated by Gaylyn Studlar how females can sometimes act as a function for male gaze only as a perverted viewing ownership (Pg 30, note 1)
The writer then goes on to show a series of Renaissance art for the remainder of the article. One image that shares similarity throughout: the sitting or reclining nude female. The writer talks about Velazquez’s Rokeby Venus painting (fig 1) and gently considers us to re-think about what we thought we knew about “the gaze” and how we thought it comes from a meaning or feeling of yearning. The writer then points out the clever construction of Manet’s Olympia (fig 4) in contrast to Velazquez’s Venus; Olympia’s reclining female is staring right back at the viewer triggering a reverse power. “Isolating the viewer in his maleness is one way of confirming that the viewer is male” (Pg 34) The entire article encourages one to rethink of what is seen when viewing art if it states the artist was male and has a nude female. It would bring a new level of contextuality.
Gaylyn Studlar - A film theorist and also currently a Professor of Film and Media Studies at Washington University St Louis. Interests in her research are primarily Feminism orientated (Film Theory) but also spanning out to Genre Studies, Hollywood Cinema & Orientalism.
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Ways of Seeing - John Berger
This particular passage of Essay 7 made me recall back to our first group class task of analysing a mag advert. (page 134)
There was also parts of the essay that piqued interest about how the use of publicity today can still rely on oil paintings for imagery - there was the additional factor of the possibility of oil paintings depicting imagery of luxury and splendour before the camera was realized?
It seemed to have held a same motive of making an induvidual almost dislike themselves as they didn't own that thing the image describes as a "must have" in order for one to feel good about themselves and be the envy of others.
"I need to have that new iphone/fragrance/coat etc to look that bit more successful in my life"
Beginning to question involvement of capitalism (Marxism) as well as psychoanalysis (still to have the lecture in due course)
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Marxism Task
Damien Hirst - For The Love of God 2007
Hirst’s “For The Love of God” (titled from a frequent quote by his mother) is a platinum cast skull set with over 5000 Diamonds. Despite the work being from 2007, the skull used to make the cast is from the 1800’s, and the teeth are from the original skull.
Hirst got the inspiration for this work from the display of Aztec Turquoise skulls in the British Museum, but wanted to make a diamond version. At first he was put off making it due to the costing of the diamonds but in the end he reconsidered as the high price would be the works purpose. This making it to live in the capitalist theory. His reasoning for making this was because as a skull is a symbol of death – a gloomy subject, he would make something that “laughed in the face of it”.
There was a controversy about the work and if blood diamonds were made to make it which Hirst firmly denied.
Although the piece may be made with ethical friendly diamonds it does provoke thought for the labours of those who mined blood diamonds and could have endangered their lives for something to be passed off at higher cost.
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Semiotics task
My recent “artwork” could possibly be Icon, only with small amount of Index and symbol
Firstly, it is a side profile drawing of a backflow incense burner there is the indexical element of the light smoke signifying that something does get burned with this but not as chaotic as fires as black smoke would signify. It is calm and controlled
The act of the ‘arbitrary’ that resulted from drawing the object this way looked like a side profile of a meditating elephant – this could signify the Lord Ganesha bringing dominant icon into play. For ones not familiar with Ganesha – He is a Hindu God with an elephant head and represents wisdom and is an obstacle clearer to help one continue their path through life.
Some may question why the object is black as that colour is mostly associated with sadness, mourning and loss, but on the other side of that coin, black also symbolises power, mystery, and sophistication.
Power could be a word to pick from there as we are talking about a God with immortal capabilities, Mystery may play a small part as the God may be myth despite still being an icon
Circling back to the calm smoke, this could be indexical to the calm meditation in what is practiced my myself for ease of anxiety which is intentional in the object, and in Hindu religions which is making connection to the icon on what appears to be Ganesha.
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Magazine Ad Task (Photo for Reference)
The jewellery seems to represent richness as it is in gold, desire is another word to come into play which has many meanings for this as we all desire riches, the model is in a pose that will look desirable to the male gaze. in other ways desirable is as if to say, 'look at me, I'm on display and I look fabulous lying on this beach' She has a goddess-like glow to her skin. she looks powerful, in control and has an inviting look.
the beach she lies on represents holiday and exoticness accompanied by the obvious water/sea and also how the model glistens as she is wet - the hair is a giveaway. but is the water acting as an innuendo? (wetness=sexual arousal) this adds to get the male attention despite the product being made for women.
there may be the hidden psychology of 'if i buy this product, will it make me look/feel as sexy as the model?'
it should also be noted how the bottle looks almost like something a genie would come out of? there is also the connection to the blue colour;
it is the known colour of genies (or so we assume it to be, this could be arbitrary) plus it makes reference to the princess that is associated to the Genie in Aladdin - this theory would support the exoticness being on a beach.
also as the name is Turquoise - it is also a gemstone.
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Beginning - 'Significant Thing'
at the start of this module, we were to do a task of choosing an item at home, do at least 1 drawing of it (more was optional) and provide 2 analyses on it.
1 as in to say that we haven't seen our chosen item before and have no idea what it does if it has a function
1 to say what we do know about it, how it came into our possession and even to do extra research on it.
My item was my Backflow incense fountain.
Formal
This object is all black, it has layers to it and at the top it has what appears to be a cylindrical shape with a void at each end. It has a flat bottom to allow it to sit independently on a surface.
There is the question if it has a purpose of function as well as aesthetic appearances, the two voids at the cylindrical form make me consider and speculate that. Does it allow something to pass through? If yes, what it would be I’m unsure.
As for the layers, they seem to have an organic shape, similar to flower petals. At the top there’s a central one, directly under the exit of the cylinder form, but then it droops down into another that’s slightly lower level, then that droops to another, again a lower level than the previous, then that 3rd drops into a final big one with no droops – as if to act as a basin, or something to act as a means of containing. To contain what is another anonymity.
On the edge of the basin, another hole can be seen. Was there a malfunction in production? Is it meant to be there?
I doubt that water is what it is made for but made for something.
When I smell it, I get a strong pungent scent – like the remains of something being burned – its enough to give you a headache if you huff at it for too long.
Not only that, when I touch the inside of the “basin” element there’s a smelly and oily like black residue left on my fingers – its not very pleasant.
So, it’s made for something to be burned. Hopefully something that smelled nice at the start and not this tar like substance that’s left behind.
Although on the exterior it is smooth, shiny and clean.
Contextual
The object I have is a backflow incense cone burner. As I like incense both in forms of sticks and cones, the fountain was gifted to me from my mum during the covid lockdown times as a way of saying “you’ve done so well keeping on with your studies during the hard times where you had to do it at home, here’s something to help keep stress levels down” I use it a lot for when I want to relax or when I have my anxiety waves.
It works by lighting specially made backflow incense cones at the top where smoke flows through the holes and makes its decent town to the final layer creating a waterfall effect which is calming to watch.
Incense burning in general holds history in Chinese culture as the people used to incense their clothes as it was a way of showing politeness and later burners appeared made of metal, porcelain, iron and earthenware.
They are also used in Buddhist cultures for meditation due to the feeling of being soothed during the burning action of the cone.
This is something I find myself connecting with as I feel relaxed after having that 15-20 minutes of pulling myself away from a thought or situation that is distressing to watch the smoke softly spill into each layer before reaching the final area of the item.
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