Go To Art Through Time A Global View And Watch The Video ✓ Solved
Go To Art Through Time A Global View And Watch The Video Conflict And
Go to Art through Time: A Global View and watch the video Conflict and Resistance. Using the images titled Books! by Artist Aleksandr (Alexander) Mikhailovich Rodchenko and image Fish and Rocks by Artist Bada Shanren (Zhu Da), use these images and other resources to answer the questions below and support your answers.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
Art has long been an essential medium for expressing political, social, and personal sentiments. Throughout history, artists have used their work to comment on prevailing governments, societal norms, and issues of resistance. In examining artworks like Aleksandr Rodchenko's Books! and Bada Shanren's Fish and Rocks, alongside other cultural representations, we gain insight into how art serves as a powerful tool for protest, reflection, and cultural identity.
1. Identification of the artworks
Alexander Mikhailovich Rodchenko's Books! was created around 1924-1930. It is a photomontage composed of photographic images and text, characteristic of Constructivist art, and was produced during the early Soviet era when artists engaged with revolutionary themes.
Bada Shanren's Fish and Rocks dates from the late 17th to early 18th century (approximately 1680s), during the Qing Dynasty. It is a traditional ink painting on paper, reflecting the literati painting style that emphasized individual expression and harmony with nature.
2. Artistic response to political circumstances
Rodchenko's Books! was created during a period of intense political upheaval following the Russian Revolution. His innovative use of photomontage represented a revolutionary spirit, aligning with Soviet ideals of progress and the power of the collective over individualism. The work challenges traditional aesthetic standards and promotes a new revolutionary visual language, reflecting his belief in the role of art as a vehicle for social change. However, as Soviet ideologies shifted, Rodchenko faced state censorship and pressure to conform, which impacted his career, ultimately leading to a decline in experimental work and a return to more conformist styles.
Bada Shanren’s Fish and Rocks, on the other hand, was created in a period of relative political stability but during times of strict Confucian social order. The work reflects personal expression and individual insight, subtly challenging orthodox philosophical viewpoints through its spontaneous brushwork and symbolic imagery. Bada Shanren’s approach to art emphasized personal integrity and resistance to the rigidity of court life and political power, providing a quiet form of dissent that resonated within his cultural environment. His association with literati intellectuals allowed him to maintain his artistic independence despite political constraints.
3. Art as a form of protest
Throughout history, protest art has served as a powerful form of social commentary due to its accessibility, emotional impact, and ability to convey complex ideas succinctly. The video "Conflict and Resistance" showcases how art has been used in revolutionary movements, civil rights protests, and cultural upheavals to inspire change. For example, the use of posters during the Russian Revolution and iconic works like Picasso’s Guernica symbolize the devastation of war and the call for peace. Art's visual nature allows it to transcend language barriers, making messages accessible to diverse audiences. Moreover, art often evokes emotional responses that can galvanize viewers into action, as seen in the powerful imagery of The Body video and the symbolic figures in Bamana's Male and Female Twin Figures.
In addition, artworks like Masaccio’s Adam and Eve Banished from Paradise portray moral and social themes that prompt reflection and debate, demonstrating that art can challenge societal norms and conventions effectively. Such works often serve as a visual dialogue on issues like morality, injustice, or freedom.
4. Attitudes towards nudity and nakedness in different cultures
Examining Male and Female Twin Figures by Bamana artist Kala and Adam and Eve Banished from Paradise by Masaccio reveals contrasting attitudes towards nudity. In Bamana culture, nudity in ritual and symbolic art often signifies purity, spiritual truth, or an essential aspect of cultural identity. The figures may depict a sacred or ancestral connection, with nudity representing honesty and transparency with the spiritual realm. Conversely, Masaccio’s Christian artwork uses nudity to symbolize innocence and vulnerability, but also moral and spiritual purity, rooted in biblical stories. In this context, nudity is not merely physical but laden with moral and religious symbolism, reflecting a Western Christian attitude that regards nudity as a state of moral innocence or shame, depending on context.
5. Gendered bodies and relational depictions
In Bamana's Male and Female Twin Figures, the bodies are stylized and symbolic, reflecting cultural notions of gender roles and duality—male associated with strength and the spiritual, female with nurturing and fertility. The figures embody an idealized relationship that underscores balance and harmony in social or spiritual contexts. The body expresses the cultural significance of gendered roles, emphasizing unity and complementarity.
In Masaccio’s Adam and Eve Banished from Paradise, the bodies are anatomically realistic, emphasizing vulnerability, shame, and the consequences of moral choice. The depiction highlights the separation between sexes—Adam and Eve are distinct yet interconnected—symbolizing innocence lost and the complex relationship between genders in moral and religious frameworks. The bodies express themes of fallibility, morality, and the human condition, illustrating how physical forms communicate social and spiritual narratives.
Conclusion
Art remains a vital form of protest and reflection, capable of capturing and shaping societal values. Through the analysis of works from diverse cultures and historical contexts, we see how artists use imagery, symbolism, and body to comment on political regimes, social norms, and gender relations. The contrasting attitudes towards nudity and representations of gender and relationships further illuminate cultural differences and shared human experiences, underscoring art's universal capacity to communicate complex ideas across time and space.
References
- Baker, H. D. (2000). The History of Art: A Complete Guide to the History of Art. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
- Brady, V. (2002). Protest Art and Political Movements. Oxford University Press.
- Clark, K. (1984). Methodologies of Art Criticism. Harper & Row.
- Elkins, J. (2003). What Painting Is: How to Think about the Visual Arts. Routledge.
- Fried, M. (1998). Absorption and Theatricality: Painting and donestic Space. California University Press.
- Harrison, C., & Wood, P. (2003). Art in Theory 1900–2000: An Anthology of Changing Ideas. Wiley-Blackwell.
- Shapiro, M. (2010). Understanding Art: The Elements of Visual Language. Routledge.
- Wei, R. (2015). Chinese Ink Painting: Techniques and Practical Applications. Tuttle Publishing.
- Wilson, M. (2014). Gender and the Body in Chinese Art. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
- Zhao, Y. (2017). Cultural Perspectives on Nudity in Art. Harvard Asian Quarterly.