HISTORY OF IDEAS - Art
Summary
TLDRThe script explores the evolving purpose of art throughout history, from its role in advertising religious and political ideologies to the modern concept of 'art for art's sake.' It discusses how art has been used to resonate emotionally with audiences, inspire contemplation, and serve as propaganda. The narrative challenges the modern reluctance to define art's purpose, advocating for its potential to enrich our lives by addressing loneliness, fostering hope, and questioning power structures, ultimately aiming to improve our daily existence.
Takeaways
- đïž Art holds a high status in modern societies, with people visiting museums and art auctions setting record prices, yet there's a reluctance to clearly define art's purpose.
- đ In early Christianity, art was used as a medium to make religious messages more resonant and emotionally appealing, akin to a form of advertising.
- đż In 15th century Thailand, art served a clear purpose, inviting contemplation and inspiration, showing the role of art in supporting religious and philosophical truths.
- đš In the 19th century, art was also used as a tool for political propaganda, as seen in Jacques-Louis David's painting of Napoleon crossing the Alps.
- đ The 'art for art's sake' movement, initiated by ThĂ©ophile Gautier, argued for the independence of art from religious and political agendas, emphasizing its intrinsic value.
- đ« Marcel Duchamp's 'Fountain' challenged traditional notions of art, advocating for art that is enigmatic and provocative, separate from mainstream society.
- đŒ Mark Rothko's abstract color field paintings represented a shift towards art that is about pure aesthetics, appealing to an elite but often puzzling to the general public.
- đ The Venice Biennale showcased the global reach of art, curated by women for the first time, indicating a shift in the art world's power dynamics.
- đž Art has become a playground for the super-rich and a tourist destination, reflecting its dual status of reverence and ongoing questioning of its purpose.
- đ Art has historically been tasked with glorifying religion or the state, but modern art sought to break away from these missions to find its own voice.
- đ The script suggests that art should be embraced for its ability to help us cope with emotions, communicate our inner world, question power, and improve political systems, ultimately aiming to enhance our lives.
Q & A
What is the general status of art in modern societies?
-Art holds a high status in modern societies, with people frequently visiting museums and art works often selling at record prices.
Why is there a reluctance to clearly define the purpose of art in the modern era?
-The reluctance stems from the fact that art's purpose has historically been clear, but in the modern context, it has become more complex and open to interpretation.
What was the role of art in the early days of Christianity?
-Art was used by early Christians to make their message more resonant, emotionally attractive, and popularly appealing, essentially serving as a form of advertising for their religious ideas.
How did Christian art evolve over time in Europe?
-Christian art evolved from humble beginnings in catacombs to producing extraordinary cathedrals, paintings, and sculptures that celebrated and enhanced the prestige of its messages.
What is the purpose of the Buddha statues created in Southeast Asia?
-The purpose of Buddha statues is to inspire viewers to become more like the Buddha, offering an invitation to calm and contemplation.
What was the significance of Jacques-Louis David's painting 'Napoleon crossing the Alps'?
-The painting commemorated a significant moment in Napoleon's early military career and served as propaganda for his political cause.
What is the 'art for art's sake' doctrine proposed by Théophile Gautier?
-The 'art for art's sake' doctrine argues that art should be free from the agendas of religions and governments and exist solely for its own sake, without trying to influence or represent anything.
What was Marcel Duchamp's stance on the purpose of art?
-Duchamp believed that art should be enigmatic, mysteriously provocative, and silent, standing outside the mainstream and defending itself against confusion with advertising, mass media, and propaganda.
What is the significance of Mark Rothko's color field paintings?
-Rothko's color field paintings are abstract and are considered by some to be the greatest works of the 20th century, appealing to an elite audience but often puzzling to the wider public.
How has the perception of art changed from being a tool for religious or political purposes to a modern concept?
-Modern art is a result of a shift away from art serving religious or political agendas, with a focus on being a sophisticated tool that helps people cope with emotions and improve their lives.
What is the role of art in contemporary society according to the script?
-In contemporary society, art is seen as a sophisticated tool that can help us cope with loneliness, fill us with hope, communicate our inner world, question power, and aim to improve political systems.
Outlines
đš The Role of Art in Society and Religion
This paragraph delves into the high status of art in modern societies, with people visiting museums and art pieces selling at record prices. However, it contrasts this with the contemporary reluctance to define the purpose of art. The script takes us back to 290 AD Rome, where early Christians used art to spread their message, making it emotionally appealing and resonant. Art served as a form of advertising for their beliefs, and for centuries, Christian art dominated Europe, creating cathedrals and other works to enhance the prestige of their message. The script also touches on the role of art in the East, such as in Thailand, where it was used to inspire contemplation and emulation of religious figures like Buddha.
đ Art as Propaganda and the 'Art for Art's Sake' Movement
The second paragraph explores the historical use of art as propaganda, exemplified by Jacques-Louis David's painting of Napoleon crossing the Alps, which glorifies Napoleon's military achievements. It then discusses the 19th-century movement led by Théophile Gautier, advocating 'art for art's sake,' suggesting that art should be free from religious and political agendas and exist purely for its own beauty. This idea influenced a new generation of romantic artists who opposed the notion that art should serve any purpose other than itself. The narrative moves to the 20th century with Marcel Duchamp's 'Fountain,' challenging traditional views of art and asserting the artist's role as an enigmatic creator outside the mainstream. The paragraph concludes with a look at the commercialization of art in the 20th century, particularly at the Venice Biennale, where art has become both a playground for the wealthy and a tourist attraction, while also questioning the purpose of modern art and suggesting it should be a tool for better living.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄArt
đĄMystique
đĄChristian Art
đĄPropaganda
đĄArt for Art's Sake
đĄModern Art
đĄContemporary Art
đĄAbstract Art
đĄVenice Biennale
đĄSophisticated Tool
đĄLeading Better Lives
Highlights
Art holds a high status in modern societies, with people visiting museums and art works selling for record prices.
There is a reluctance in modern times to clearly define the purpose of art, unlike in most of history.
In 290 AD Rome, early Christians used art to resonate their message and gain followers, similar to advertising.
Christian art dominated Europe for a millennium, producing cathedrals and enhancing the prestige of its messages.
In the 15th century Thailand, Buddhist art served as an inspiration for contemplation and personal growth.
Art in both East and West has historically supported religious truths and made ideas more digestible.
Jacques-Louis David's 'Napoleon crossing the Alps' is an example of art as political propaganda.
Théophile Gautier's 'art for art's sake' movement argued for art's independence from religious and political agendas.
Marcel Duchamp's 'Fountain' challenged traditional notions of what art should be, promoting enigmatic and provocative works.
Mark Rothko's abstract color field paintings became highly valued, representing an obscure direction in 20th-century art.
The Venice Biennale in 2005 showcased art as a playground for the super-rich and a destination for tourists.
Art's purpose has historically been to glorify religion or speak well of the state, but modern art diverged from these agendas.
Art should overcome its hesitation to state its purpose and be recognized as a sophisticated tool for various human needs.
Art can help us cope with loneliness, fill us with hope, communicate our inner world, question power, and improve political systems.
The highest honor we can give to art is to use it as a tool to lead better lives.
The transcript also promotes The School of Life's shop for thoughtful books, games, and stationery.
Transcripts
Art has a very high status in modern societies:
People flock to museums
and art works fetch record prices.
But our age is also oddly reluctant to say in clear terms what art might actually be for.
An odd mystique surrounds it, epitomized by the puzzlement many of us feel
as we look at yet another odd looking, modern work of art in a contemporary museum.
We're often left quietly and politely wondering what is it all meant to be about.
For most of history, this kind of question didn't arise, because it was abundantly clear what art was for.
The question mark over the purpose of art is really a modern one, so let's go back in time
and find out about a wider range of options that we might be able to draw on fruitfully today.
Rome, 290 AD
Deep below the imperial Roman city, the faithful secretly gather in catacombs,
or burial chambers, to celebrate new religious figure, Jesus Christ.
Christianity, though still in its infancy and ruthlessly persecuted by the Roman authorities, is rapidly gaining ground.
Like so many religions before it and since, Christianity has become involved with the making of art.
Here, an unnamed and not especially talented artists represents Jesus healing of a bleeding woman,
an incident recorded in the New Testament.
Like all religions, Christianity is using art for a clear and understandable purpose:
to make its message more resonant, emotionally attractive, and popularly appealing.
Art is like a kind of advertising for its ideas.
Soon Christian artists are going to dominate Europe.
For almost a thousand years almost all art produced in Europe will simply be Christian art.
From humble beginnings in a subterranean prayer room,
Christian art will go on to produce extraordinary cathedrals, paintings
sculptures and celebrating and enhancing the prestige of its messages.
Thailand, 15th century
An unknown craftsman finishes a statue of the Buddha.
One of many hundreds of thousands of such statues produced over the
centuries in Southeast Asia.
The purpose of such art is extremely clear:
You're meant to look at the Buddha and take inspiration, becoming a little more as he is.
The sculpture is an invitation to calm and contemplation.
In the East as in the West arts function is evident:
to support the truths set down by religions,
to make ideas more easily digestible.
Paris, January 1801
The French artist Jacques-Louis David finishes "Napoleon crossing the Alps".
It commemorates a moment when a couple of years before, Napoleon still in his
twenties launched a lightning raid on the North Italian states, winning a series of astonishing victories.
In the picture, Napoleon masters a white warhorse
though he actually cross the mountains on a more serviceable mule.
Here, art is doing something it has done throughout history as well:
acting as propaganda for a political cause.
Napoleon is looking back to the example of Louis XIV of France who
did a lot of propagandizing with art.
It was a habit he got into throughout his rule.
Paris, 1833
The poet, novelist and critique Théophile Gautier publishes an essay about art,
which argues that art must free itself from the poisonous agendas of religions and governments.
The point of good art is always to be just for its own sake
as he put it in French, "l'art pour l'art", art for art's sake.
This doctrine of art for art's sake becomes the motto of the new generation of romantic artists
who set themselves against the old ideal that art should serve religion or powerful rulers or nations.
Nonsense, says Gautier, true art must serve nothing at all.
it is an end in itself and doesn't try to change or do or speak about anything.
Artists set themselves apart from the bourgeois commercial society growing up all around,
which is always trying to sell people things.
Art should try to inhabit a loftier, more abstract realm.
New York, 1917
The artist Marcel Duchamp prepares to exhibit his latest work at a show by the Society of Independent Artists.
It is surprisingly a urinal titled simply Fountain.
Duchamp is a rebellion against many notions of what art is,
that it should be easy to understand, that it should make sense, that it should promote something.
The true artist, argues Duchamp must defend himself against any confusion
with advertising, mass media, government propaganda or religious indoctrination,
that true purpose of the artist is to stand outside the mainstream and create
works that are enigmatic, mysteriously provocative and rather silent.
New York, 1949
A russian émigré artist, Marcus Ravkovic who has renamed himself Mark Rothko to escape anti-semitism
exhibits a new range of works at the Betty Parsons gallery in Manhattan.
They are a revelation, in that they seem not to be about anything.
They are about pure color fields and are as abstract as music.
For some, they are the greatest works of the 20th century and soon fetch enormous prices.
The Museum of Modern Art acquires a major set of Rothko's as do other national museums around the world.
Rothko becomes representative of the more obscure direction of 20th century art,
highly appealing to an elite who will often pay enormous incomprehensible prices for works
but puzzling for the wider public.
Venice, June 2005
The world's most prestigious art fair, The Venice Biennale opens at the newly restored spaces of the Arsenale.
It has been curated for the first time by two women, MarĂa de Corral and Rosa Martinez.
41 artist's are shown from all over the world.
The nearby Marco Polo airport is filled with the private jets of the world's billionaires,
many of whom profess to love art.
Elaborate cocktail parties are held late into the night.
Art has become a playground for the super rich
as well as an obligatory tourist destination for weary travelers.
Art is both hugely revered and yet somehow still in question.
For most of its history art has been saddled with a mission:
to glorify religion or to speak well of the state.
Modern art was the result of a swerve away from these agendas for extremely understandable reasons.
Yet if art is to regain its true centerality
it should overcome it hesitation about stating what it's really for and is trying to do.
It is really and has always been a sophisticated tool,
a tool that can help us to cope with things like loneliness,
that can fill us with hope,
that can help us to communicate our inner world,
that questions power and aims to improve political systems.
It is never an insult to ask art to do things for us,
to be a practical part of our daily lives.
We honor art most when we give it the highest task of all:
to help us to lead better lives.
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