Conceptual art and contemporary international art Flashcards
Question 3 of the exam. 3 Examples (14 cards)
For what movement and in what year was ‘One and Three Chairs’ created? By who?
‘One and Three Chairs’ was created by Joseph Kosuth in 1965 and is a part of the conceptual art movement
Describe ‘One and Three Chairs’ by Joseph Kosuth
A folding chair, a photograph of a folding chair, and the dictionary definition of the word ‘chair’
What makes ‘One and Three Chairs’ conceptual?
The idea presented is prioritised over the artwork itself. Little regard is given to the aesthetic or craftsmanship of the piece
(Kosuth did not create anything presented)
What is the concept behind ‘One and Three Chairs’ by Joseph Kosuth?
The work aims to discuss the relationship between language, representation, and reality. By presenting these three forms side by side, Kosuth challenges viewers to consider: What is the “real” chair? The object, the image, or the idea?
Of what genre and in what year was ‘Spiral Jetty’ created? By who?
‘Spiral Jetty’ was created by Robert Smithson in 1970 and is a piece of land art
Describe ‘Spiral Jetty’ by Robert Smithson
A massive, counterclockwise spiral jetty extending into the shallow pink waters of the Great Salt Lake
How did Smithson explore the concepts of change and entropy in ‘Spiral Jetty’?
He viewed entropy as the concept that all things are in a state of decay, flux, or transformation.
The work is meant to change, erode, and even disappear under the water over time. It resists permanence and embraces natural decay as part of its identity.
Smithson was fascinated by patterns in nature. He found the spiral to be perfect as it was found in different parts of nature and represented growth, change, and entropy.
How does the nature of land art and location affect Robert Smithson’s ‘Spiral Jetty’
The fact that the piece is free to visit and has become a part of the natural landscape challenges the typical notion that art is confined to galleries. (Anti-commodity)
The Jetty can sometimes be submerged, tying into the theme of constant change in the natural world.
The lake’s microbial pink water sometimes submerges or reveals the Jetty, creating an unpredictable and evolving artwork.
One can walk on the jetty, becoming part of it through physically impacting its surface. Alternatively, one must view the jetty from a nearby hill to properly see the spiral shape.
For what movement and in what year was ‘Untitled Film Still #19’ created? By who?
‘Untitled Film Still #19’ was created by Cindy Sherman in 1978 and is a part of the feminist art movement
Describe ‘Untitled Film Still #19’ by Cindy Sherman
A black and white photograph of a 1950s-style woman in a cityscape at a low angle, staring beyond the camera’s point of view.
How does Sherman incorporate feminism into ‘Untitled Film Still #19’?
By using the facade of a film still, Cindy Sherman makes commentary on how women are represented in media.
Sherman portrays the character of a woman in ‘the big city’. This purposefully vague role allows the viewer to relate to its narrative and understand its critique of society. The image critiques the limited roles available to women in visual culture.
How does Sherman use framing techniques to enhance ‘Untitled Film Still #19’?
Sherman stands slightly off-centre in a medium shot, looking upward and to the left, as if something or someone outside the frame has caught her attention, though her expression remains ambiguous.
Sherman confronts the viewer with a character who is both seen and seeing.
The camera is positioned at a low angle, making her appear larger and more powerful, yet also isolated.
What themes does ‘Untitled Film Still #19’ explore?
- Feminism
- Gender roles
- Laura Mulvey’s theory of the “male gaze”. The theory discusses how women are positioned as objects of desire or fear in cinema.
What is the context behind ‘Untitled Film Still #19’?
The Untitled Film Stills series (1977–1980) is one of the most important bodies of feminist art of the 20th century.
Created at a time when second-wave feminism was critiquing the media’s portrayal of women.
