Why We Study Art: Crash Course Art History #1

Summary

This script from 'Crash Course Art History' explores the multifaceted nature of art as a storyteller, reflecting diverse perspectives and historical interpretations. It challenges the traditional view of art history, emphasizing the subjectivity and evolution of artistic ideas. The video discusses the influence of the Medici family on the Renaissance, the role of art criticism, and the importance of considering race, class, and gender in art analysis. It also highlights the significance of surviving materials in shaping our understanding of history and art.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Art is multifaceted and tells various stories, reflecting different perspectives and historical events.
• 🏛 The biombo, a folding screen from Mexico, exemplifies how art can depict historical narratives, with varying accounts from different cultures.
• 📚 Historical accuracy in art is subjective and depends on the source material and the storyteller's perspective.
• 👩‍🏫 Sarah Urist Green introduces the concept of art history as a critical study of objects and images to understand their origins and the people behind them.
• 🌐 Art is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of creative expressions, from ancient to modern, and varies across cultures.
• 🖼 The Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo is a renowned example of art that has been shaped by historical narratives and the influence of powerful patrons like the Medici family.
• 🤝 The Medici family's patronage of artists significantly impacted the art scene and the development of what is considered significant in art history.
• 📖 Giorgio Vasari's 'Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects' was influential in shaping the Western European bias in art history and the establishment of the art historical canon.
• 🏛️ The concept of the 'Old Masters' emerged from Vasari's work, creating a standard for artistic greatness that later artists had to meet.
• 🔍 Modern art history has evolved to include critical lenses of race, class, and gender, offering a more inclusive and diverse understanding of art.
• 🌳 The survival of art and its historical context is crucial for understanding its full story, as seen with 'The Raft of the Medusa' and the contrast with the less-documented West African drum.
• 🔄 The series promises to explore art history's ability to reveal connections across time and culture and to question the creation and retelling of history.

Q & A

What is a biombo and how is it related to the script's discussion of art and history?

A biombo is a folding screen made in Mexico and inspired by Japanese decorative designs. It is used in the script to illustrate how art can tell different stories about historical events, depending on the perspective of the artist or the culture from which it originates.

How does the script suggest that historical events are not straightforward?

The script suggests that historical events are not straightforward by presenting two different accounts of the death of the Aztec emperor Moctezuma the Second, one from the Spanish perspective and one from the Indigenous people of Mexico, showing that history can be interpreted differently based on who is telling the story.

What is the role of a curator and art educator according to Sarah Urist Green?

As a curator and art educator, Sarah Urist Green's role is to help people understand that art history is about thinking critically by observing closely, studying objects and images to understand the people, places, and time periods they come from, and reflecting on how art reflects different perspectives and stories.

What does the script imply about the nature of art?

The script implies that art is subjective and can include a wide range of objects and expressions, from ancient cave paintings to modern street art. It also suggests that ideas about what constitutes art have changed and continue to change over time, and not all cultures may even have a word for 'art' in their language.

Why is the Sistine Chapel ceiling a well-known example in art history?

The Sistine Chapel ceiling is a well-known example in art history because it was painted by the influential artist Michelangelo, who was supported by the wealthy Medici family. Additionally, the story of its creation and the artist's fame were popularized by Giorgio Vasari in his book 'Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects,' which became a foundational text in art history.

What is the significance of Giorgio Vasari's book in shaping the Western European art narrative?

Giorgio Vasari's book, 'Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects,' is significant because it celebrated artists like Michelangelo and gave the Medicis credit for supporting a historic 'rebirth' of art. It became the basis of the canon of art history, influencing which artworks were considered important and how art history was written with a significant bias toward Western European art.

What does the script mean by the 'canon of art history'?

The 'canon of art history' refers to a collection or timeline of artists and artworks that are considered to be truly great and have furthered art's progress. These are the works and artists that are repeatedly discussed and studied in the field of art history.

How does the script discuss the evolution of art history?

The script discusses the evolution of art history by mentioning how, over time, the canon of great artists grew to include new masterpieces and makers while forgetting about others. It also touches on how art began to be sorted by style and how new ways of judging, explaining, and interpreting art emerged, including considerations of race, class, and gender by the mid-twentieth century.

What is the importance of considering multiple perspectives in studying art and history?

Considering multiple perspectives in studying art and history is important because it allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. It helps to reveal the different stories and ideas that connect people across the world and acknowledges that history is a constructed account that can vary based on who is telling it.

How does the script use the example of Kara Walker's 'Fons Americanus' to illustrate a point about art and history?

The script uses Kara Walker's 'Fons Americanus' to illustrate how art can confront and challenge dominant historical narratives. The artwork provides an alternative view to the triumphant story told by the Victoria Memorial, highlighting the human toll of colonial violence and enslavement that is often left unspoken.

What does the script suggest about the relationship between the survival of materials and our understanding of history?

The script suggests that the survival of materials plays a significant role in shaping our understanding of history. It contrasts the extensive knowledge we have about 'The Raft of the Medusa' due to the survival of many related documents and materials with the limited information available about the West African drum in the British Museum, which has been pieced together from scraps.