The Frames

Question 1

What are the 4 frames?

Answer 1

Cultural
Structural
Postmodern
Subjective

Question 2

What is the cultural frame? What are some questions relating to it?

Answer 2

This frame examines the social perspectives, beliefs and values of a community.

1. Which culture is the artist operating in?
2. Explain the beliefs of this culture.
3. Are there religious or spiritual beliefs?
4. List the features of this cultural style.
5. Identify the knowledge or beliefs reflected in this artwork – scientific, technical, environmental, political, economic, war, feminism or racism?

Question 3

What is the structural frame? What are some questions relating to it?

Answer 3

This frame examines information through the artistic signs and symbols in the artwork.

1. Describe the main visual qualities (line, tone, colour, shape, texture, form).
2. Describe the main visual relationships (composition, focal point, balance/unity/symmetry, repetition, movement).
3. Are there any signs or symbols that represent ideas?
4. How have the symbols and signs been organised in the artwork?

Question 4

What is the postmodern frame? What are some questions relating to it?

Answer 4

This frame examines the personal attitudes and beliefs of artists who are working in contemporary cultures.

1. What are the artist’s ideas about?
2. Has the artist used appropriation, irony, pastiche or parody? How?
3. What meanings are intended?
4. How has the artist quoted, reinvented, changed or recontextualised ideas from another artwork? Why?
5. If the artist has taken ideas from another work, identify the ‘original’ artwork or cultural tradition and the meanings suggested.
6. Has the artist changed any signs and symbols? How has the meaning changed?

Question 5

What is the subjective frame? What are some questions relating to it?

Answer 5

This frame looks at the personal experiences of the artist and the audience’s response to these.

1. What has the artist thought, felt or imagined?
2. What has the artist tried to communicate in this work? How have they done this?
3. What senses are you reminded of? (Sight, smell,sound, touch, taste).
4. What do you feel when you look at this artwork?
5. Describe the aesthetic (visual) qualities that you like.
6. Do you like or dislike the work? Explain why or why not.