Why You Don't Like Art History

Summary

This video script critiques traditional, linear art history, which often centers on Eurocentric narratives and overlooks global influences. It contrasts this with the approach of the PBS series *Civilizations*, which offers a more inclusive and interconnected view of human creativity. The script highlights how art can be analyzed from various perspectives, such as formal, iconographical, or through critical theories like post-colonialism. By challenging established narratives, the video encourages a more diverse, critical engagement with art history, ultimately promoting a broader, more nuanced understanding of how art has shaped societies across time and cultures.

Takeaways

• 😀 Art history can feel overwhelming and dry if approached in a traditional, linear fashion with dates, names, and movements.
• 😀 The new PBS series *Civilizations* offers a global perspective on art, emphasizing cultural exchange and interconnectedness across time and place.
• 😀 The traditional view of art history often presents a Eurocentric narrative, with a focus on Western art as the pinnacle of civilization.
• 😀 The shift from 'civilization' to 'civilizations' reflects a more inclusive approach, acknowledging the contributions and influence of cultures beyond Europe.
• 😀 *Civilizations* highlights how art and culture have evolved through constant borrowing, influence, and interaction across the world.
• 😀 There are various ways to study and understand art, including formal analysis, iconography, biographical research, and critical theory perspectives like psychoanalysis and Marxism.
• 😀 Critical theories like post-colonialism challenge traditional art history by questioning European perspectives and examining colonial impacts on art.
• 😀 Art history courses tend to oversimplify complex narratives, focusing on a linear timeline of movements, and often neglect contemporary art.
• 😀 The study of art should not only focus on what has been created but also how it has been interpreted historically and in the present, considering biases in the telling of those stories.
• 😀 Art history is an evolving field that must be understood through multiple lenses, accepting that each view is incomplete, biased, and flawed but collectively broadens our understanding of art and culture.

Q & A

What is the primary critique of traditional art history education presented in the transcript?

The primary critique is that traditional art history education tends to offer a linear, simplified narrative of cultural advancements, often focusing on Western art movements and leaving out complex global influences and the nuances of art's social, political, and cultural contexts.

How does the new BBC series 'Civilizations' differ from the previous 1969 series 'Civilization'?

The new series 'Civilizations' takes a more global and inclusive approach, emphasizing the exchange of ideas and influences across cultures, as opposed to the Eurocentric perspective of the 1969 series, which focused on Western civilization and its great works of art.

What does the term 'civilizations' in the new series signify, according to the transcript?

The term 'civilizations' in the new series signifies a broader, more interconnected history of human creativity, highlighting how different cultures have influenced each other, rather than focusing solely on the advancement of Western civilization in opposition to barbarism.

What shift in the study of art history does the transcript highlight?

The shift highlighted is from a linear, Eurocentric narrative of art history to a more nuanced, multifaceted approach that incorporates various critical theories and methodologies to examine the diverse ways art has been created, viewed, and interpreted across cultures and time periods.

What are some of the critical theories mentioned that can be applied to the study of art?

The transcript mentions several critical theories that can be applied to art, including psychoanalytic theory (examining subconscious drives), Marxist theory (analyzing economic and social conditions), and post-colonial theory (exploring the impact of colonialism on art).

Why does the transcript emphasize the importance of asking 'what even is art?'

The question 'what even is art?' is emphasized to acknowledge that art cannot be confined to a single definition or category. The transcript suggests that art can be understood through a variety of lenses, such as visual culture, material culture, and design, reflecting its diverse forms and functions in society.

How does the transcript describe the relationship between art history and the real world?

The transcript argues that traditional art history often fails to reflect the messy, complicated nature of the real world. It suggests that instead of oversimplifying the past, we should embrace the chaotic, diverse, and ever-evolving story of art that better aligns with the complexities of human experience.

What is the value of learning art history from various perspectives, as discussed in the transcript?

Learning art history from various perspectives is valuable because it allows for a deeper, more critical understanding of how artworks have been created, interpreted, and used throughout history. It also helps uncover what's missing or distorted in traditional narratives and acknowledges the biases inherent in those telling the stories.

What impact did Kenneth Clark's 'Civilization' have on the public's understanding of art?

Kenneth Clark's 'Civilization' helped popularize art history, particularly in Europe and the U.S., by presenting a personal, albeit Eurocentric, narrative of Western art. It led to an increase in cultural tourism and a broader public interest in the great works of Western civilization.

What role does 'Ways of Seeing' by John Berger play in the context of this transcript?

John Berger's 'Ways of Seeing' is presented as an alternative to traditional art history. Instead of offering an overview of art, Berger focuses on teaching people how to critically engage with and interpret the world around them, encouraging a more reflective and less authoritative approach to understanding art.