Topic 2 Part 2: Context of Contemporary Art

Summary

This pre-recorded lecture delves into the context of contemporary art, emphasizing the importance of appreciating art beyond its final form by considering both internal and external factors. It introduces the concept of context in art, including formal elements, composition, and materials, as well as the artist's intentions and the impact of cultural and historical influences. The lecture also explores the features of contemporary art, the six fundamental components of art, and the disciplines of art, encouraging viewers to engage with the material through reflection and discussion.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The lecture discusses the context of contemporary art and emphasizes the importance of appreciating art not just for its final product but also for its process and the intentions behind it.
• 📚 Students are encouraged to read about or watch a video on Georgette Mandaris to understand his contribution to art, reflecting on how an artist's work can be contextualized within a community's situation.
• 🤔 The script prompts viewers to consider the internal and external factors that influence the creation and interpretation of art, such as economic status, religious affiliations, and cultural development.
• 👀 It highlights the three aspects to consider when appreciating art: formal elements, overall composition, and materials and technique, which help in understanding how an artwork is crafted.
• 🎭 The primary context of art focuses on the artist's intentions and motivations, while the secondary context includes external conditions like the functions of the work and broader cultural and historical influences.
• 🌐 The concept of 'context' in communication is related to appreciating art, as both require considering various factors to derive meaning.
• 🏛 The lecture introduces the idea that an artwork's meaning can be influenced by its cultural and historical context, suggesting that art is a response to an artist's environment and historical moment.
• 🌟 Art is defined as something that carries meaning and value, and its recognition as such depends on aesthetic experience, consensus within the art world, and cultural practices that share meaning.
• 🔍 Contemporary art is characterized by its belonging to a specific historical period, its questioning of old hierarchies, and its adaptation to new technologies, reflecting the evolution of art over time.
• 🎼 The six fundamental components of art include form, imagination, creativity, language, interpretation, and political economy, each playing a role in the creation, communication, and reception of art.
• 📘 The disciplines of art include art production, art history, art criticism, and aesthetics, which together form a comprehensive framework for understanding and evaluating art.

Q & A

What are the objectives of the lecture on the context of contemporary art?

The lecture aims to discuss the context of contemporary art, including the appreciation of art in its process and the external factors surrounding the creation of artwork, which are crucial to understanding the context. It also intends to explore the internal and external factors that influence the meaning made out of an artwork.[^1^]

How does the lecture introduce the concept of context in relation to art?

The lecture introduces the concept of context as both internal and external factors that need to be considered when making meaning out of an artwork. This includes economic status, religious affiliations, cultural development, social norms, and the context of the artist, such as their intentions and the triggers for their artwork creation.[^1^]

What are the three aspects that consumers of art need to consider to appreciate art in its final output?

The three aspects are formal elements, which are the elements and principles of art observed in the artwork; overall composition, which refers to how these elements and principles are organized cohesively; and materials and technique, which involve identifying how the artist utilized materials and applied techniques in their unique way.[^1^]

What is the significance of the primary context when appreciating art in its production process?

The primary context is significant as it is artist-centered, focusing on the intentions and purposes behind the creation of the artwork, as well as what triggered the artist to create the piece. It provides a deeper understanding of the artist's motivations and the artwork's origins.[^1^]

Can you explain the secondary context in the appreciation of art?

The secondary context addresses external conditions that influence the artwork, such as the functions of the work, religious and economic structures, climate, geography, and cultural and historical contexts. It examines the influences on the artist's work as a response to their environment and the historical moment or movement that contributes to the artwork's meaning.[^1^]

What are the features of contemporary art as discussed in the lecture?

The features of contemporary art include it being a timeline with works belonging to a specific historical period, a continuous questioning of old hierarchies and categories of art to break traditional boundaries, and an adaptation to new technologies, with artists utilizing current technological advancements in their work.[^1^]

What is the importance of the aesthetic experience in the context of art?

The aesthetic experience is important as it is the phenomenon felt by the consumer when looking at an artwork. It can evoke feelings of enchantment, fear, or any emotion intended by the creator, thus playing a significant role in how art is perceived and valued by the audience.[^1^]

How does the consensus of the art world play a role in defining what is considered art?

The consensus of the art world is crucial as it involves the agreement of the art community, including schools, museums, artists, and marketing systems, in recognizing an object as an artwork. This consensus validates the artwork within the community and contributes to its acceptance as a piece of art.[^1^]

What is the role of cultural practice in the recognition of an object as an artwork?

Cultural practice is vital as it involves the community's agreement that an object is an artwork based on their cultural standards. It is the shared meaning and understanding within a community that ultimately determines the recognition and acceptance of an object as an artwork.[^1^]

What are the six fundamental components of art as mentioned in the lecture?

The six fundamental components of art are form, which is the final product perceived by the senses; imagination, the generation of images, concepts, and ideas; creativity, making something meaningful out of imagination; language, the medium of communication in an artwork; interpretation, the audience's understanding and meaning-making of the artwork; and political economy, which influences the art industry within a community.[^1^]

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Understanding Context in Art

This paragraph introduces the lecture's focus on the context of contemporary art, emphasizing the importance of appreciating art not just for its aesthetic value but also considering the intentions and external factors that influence its creation. The lecture aims to explore the concept of context in art, including internal and external factors such as economic status, religious affiliations, cultural development, and social norms. It also introduces the formal elements, overall composition, and materials and techniques as key considerations in appreciating art. The paragraph concludes by highlighting the significance of the artist's contribution to the community and the importance of the audience's interpretation of the artwork.

05:02

🏛 Deep Dive into Art Contexts

The second paragraph delves deeper into the primary and secondary contexts of art. It explains that the primary context is artist-centered, focusing on the artist's intentions and motivations, while the secondary context considers external conditions like societal functions, religious and economic structures, and cultural and historical influences. The paragraph also discusses the three criteria that define something as art: aesthetic experience, consensus from the art world, and cultural practice and shared meaning. It concludes with a brief mention of the evolution of art through history, leading to the emergence of contemporary art.

10:05

🌐 Features of Contemporary Art

This paragraph outlines the three main features of contemporary art: its association with a specific historical period, its tendency to challenge established hierarchies and categories, and its integration with new technologies. It also introduces the six fundamental components of art: form, imagination, creativity, language, interpretation, and political economy. The paragraph explains how these components interact to create and influence the art industry within a community, highlighting the importance of support and funding for artistic flourishing.

15:07

📚 Art Disciplines and Reflection

The final paragraph discusses the four disciplines of art: art production, art history, art criticism, and aesthetics. It describes art production as the artist's response to their environment, art history as the study of past and present art to understand its evolution, art criticism as the assessment of an artwork's significance to society, and aesthetics as the emotional and sensory phenomena experienced when encountering art. The paragraph concludes with an invitation for the audience to engage with the lecture through reflection questions and further discussions, encouraging interaction and inquiry.

Keywords

💡context

In the video script, 'context' refers to the background and circumstances that surround the creation and interpretation of art. It is what gives art its meaning and relevance, connecting the artwork to the viewer's experiences and the wider world. The script mentions that context includes internal and external factors that influence the creation and understanding of art, such as the artist's intentions, the community's economic status, religious affiliations, cultural development, and social norms. This concept is crucial for appreciating art not just for its aesthetic value but also for its significance and the ideas it conveys.

💡Georgette Mandaris

The script encourages viewers to read about or watch a video on Georgette Mandaris, highlighting his contributions as an artist and an individual. Mandaris is presented as an example of an artist whose work and personal impact are significant enough to warrant study. The script suggests that understanding Mandaris's situation and how he addressed issues within his community can provide insight into the broader context of art and its social implications.

💡formal elements

Formal elements in the script are described as the basic components and principles of art that are applied or observed in an artwork. This includes aspects such as lines, shapes, colors, and the use of space in visual arts like paintings or the use of spectacle and movement in dance. The script emphasizes that understanding these elements is essential for appreciating the final output of an artwork, as they contribute to the overall visual language and impact of the piece.

💡overall composition

The script discusses 'overall composition' as the organization of the formal elements and principles in a way that creates a cohesive meaning. It is how an artist arranges these elements within a work of art to convey a unified message or evoke a particular response. The composition can affect how the viewer perceives and interprets the artwork, making it a critical aspect of artistic communication.

💡materials and technique

According to the script, 'materials and technique' involve identifying how an artist utilizes certain materials and applies specific techniques to create an artwork. This concept is important for appreciating the artist's unique approach to their work, as it reflects their personal style and the creative choices they make in the production process. The script suggests that understanding the materials and techniques used can deepen one's appreciation of the artwork.

💡primary context

The script defines 'primary context' as the artist-centered aspect of understanding art, focusing on the intentions and purposes behind the creation of an artwork. It involves exploring what motivated the artist to create the piece and what they aimed to express or achieve through their work. This concept is integral to appreciating the artwork in its production process, as it provides insight into the artist's mindset and creative vision.

💡secondary context

In the script, 'secondary context' refers to the external conditions that influence the creation and interpretation of art. This includes factors such as the functions of work, religious and economic structures, climate, geography, and the broader cultural and historical context. The script suggests that considering secondary context helps to understand the artwork within the wider social, cultural, and historical framework that shapes its meaning and significance.

💡aesthetic experience

The script describes 'aesthetic experience' as the phenomenon felt by the consumer when engaging with a work of art. It involves the emotional responses, such as enchantment or fear, that the creator intends for the consumer to feel. This concept is central to the appreciation of art, as it encompasses the personal and subjective reactions that art can evoke, making the experience of art deeply individual and varied.

💡consensus of the art world

The script mentions 'consensus of the art world' as the agreement among art institutions, schools, museums, artists, and marketing systems that a particular object is an artwork. This consensus is essential for an object to be recognized and valued as art within a specific community or culture. The script implies that this recognition is a collective validation that contributes to the status and perception of the artwork.

💡cultural practice

In the script, 'cultural practice' relates to the shared understanding and agreement within a community about what constitutes art. It involves considering cultural standards and values that influence the recognition and appreciation of an artwork. The script suggests that cultural practice is significant because it reflects the collective beliefs and perspectives of a community regarding art and its role in society.

Highlights

Introduction to the lecture on the context of contemporary art with objectives displayed on screen.

Instruction to open learning packets and locate an article on Georgette Mandaris and his contributions.

Availability of a video link for those who prefer to watch about Georgette Mandaris.

Engagement with the audience to answer questions related to the artist's impact on the community.

Discussion on appreciating art not just for its final product but also its creation process and intentions.

Explanation of the concept of context in art, including internal and external factors.

Importance of considering economic status, religious affiliations, and cultural development in art appreciation.

Three considerations for appreciating art: formal elements, overall composition, and materials and technique.

Primary context focuses on the artist's intentions and triggers for creating the artwork.

Secondary context includes external conditions affecting the artwork's meaning and significance.

Cultural and historical context as part of secondary context, examining artist's response to the environment.

Three criteria for something to be considered art: aesthetic experience, consensus of the art world, and cultural practice.

Evolution of art through history, leading to the emergence of contemporary art.

Features of contemporary art, including its timeline, questioning of old hierarchies, and use of new technologies.

Six fundamental components of art: form, imagination, creativity, language, interpretation, and political economy.

The disciplines of art, including art production, art history, art criticism, and aesthetics.

Reflection question to engage the audience and invite their thoughts and answers in the comment section.

Invitation for questions or concerns regarding the lesson, with contact options provided.

Transcripts

[Music]

hello everyone welcome to this

pre-recorded lecture and our topic for

this video would be

context of contemporary

art our objectives will be flashed on

the screen you may want to pause the

video so that you can

read our objectives for this video

before we discuss our topic for this

video i'd like us to open our learning

packets

and locate an article about georgette

mandaris and his contribution as an

artist and as an individual

also at the same time there is an

available video link on

in the description box in case you

prefer to watch a video about him

instead of reading about him

and once you're done

reading or watching i'd like us to

answer the questions that will be

flashed on the screen and

send in your answers in the

comment section to where this is posted

you may answer all of the questions or

you can just answer one of the questions

in the questions that were asked from

you in the activity you're primarily

asked of the situation of the community

as well as how

the artist actually addressed the issue

and with these questions in mind

this somehow concludes or drives us to

the conclusion

that

not only do we try to appreciate art in

its

face value or its final

product but also at the same time we try

to appreciate art in its process the

intentions to which it was made as well

as

the external factors that surround

the creation

of the artwork

which somehow connects us to the concept

of context

now if you remember in your oral

communication classes

context refers to internal as well as

external factors that we have to

consider

when we make meaning out of

what the person is trying to communicate

and same is also true when we talk about

appreciating and making meaning out of

an artwork

wherein there are internal as well as

internal external factors that we have

to consider like for example

the

economic status the religious

affiliations of the

of the

community as well as the cultural

development the social norms and etc etc

and not only that we also have to

consider

the

the context or what is happening with

the artist

there are three things that we have to

consider as consumers in order to

appreciate art in its final output

and first of which is formal elements

now formal elements are simply

the elements and principles of art that

is applied or observed in an artwork so

for example if you are

looking into a dance routine you look

into the spectacle

how the space was used or if you're

looking into

a painting for example you look into how

the lines

or what lines shapes

and colors were used in the painting

next one is overall composition now when

we talk about overall composition we

think about how these elements and

principles were organized in such a way

that it creates one cohesive meaning

and lastly is what we have

or what we call materials and technique

now in this

in this consideration we'd have to make

sure we would have to be able to

identify how the artist was able to

utilize these materials and at the same

time apply the techniques in his own way

when we try to appreciate art in its

production process we have to consider

two things

first one is primary context when we

talk about primary context this is very

artist centered wherein we look into the

intentions and purposes as to why

the artist created the artwork and at

the same time what triggered him to

actually create

this artwork or a particular artwork

second one is what we call secondary

context now when we talk about secondary

context this addresses the external

conditions like the functions of work or

religious and economic structures as

well as

climate and geography

and under

secondary context is what we call

cultural and historical context

now when we talk about cultural context

this tries to examine

the influences on the work of the artist

as a response to his environment

and as well as we have historical

context wherein it refers to a moment

or a movement of history that could

actually contribute to

the

meaning or that could actually

contribute to the whole meaning of the

artwork

[Music]

a thing becomes art when it is charged

with meaning and value

and with this in mind we have to

consider three things

first and foremost is aesthetic

experience when we talk about this

experience this is a phenomenon felt by

the consumer when looking at a certain

thing

this may be the feelings of enchantment

or

fear or anything that the creator

intended for the consumer to feel

[Music]

next one is consensus of the art world

the art community should be able to

agree that a thing is an artwork in

these

institutions or this community includes

schools museums artists themselves in

the marketing systems

next one is cultural

practice and share meaning and this is

this might actually be

the most important

since the community has to agree that

that an object is actually in an artwork

and they must consider their own

cultural standards in considering that a

thing is an artwork so as long as

everyone actually agrees

that a thing is an artwork then

therefore in that specific community

that specific practice that specific

thing can be considered an artwork

[Music]

with all of the things that has happened

in history both good and bad

we can infer that art has continued to

evolve through time hence the birth of

contemporary art

with this in mind there are three

features

of contemporary art

and first of which is that contemporary

art is a timeline in which

works belong to a particular historical

period just like how we try to

categorize an artwork

as

a renaissance work a classical work in

etc etc

next one is that contemporary art will

continue to question old hierarchies

that have been

set by our predecessor

and at the same time categories of art

in order to break it

and lastly is that it feeds on new

technologies contemporary art or artist

itself has continued to adapt to the

technologies that are available right

now just like for example how literature

is available on wattpad or even on

twitter serious and etc etc

and just like how music is available to

everyone through streaming platforms

like youtube

and spotify

there are six fundamental components of

art and first of which is form now when

we talk about form

this is simply the

final product that we see that is

perceived by our senses so for example

the

song released by an artist

a finished product of a painting

a dance routine and etc etc

second one is what we call imagination

these are images

concepts ideas

that are generated in our minds that

have not existed

in the world yet

third one is what we call creativity

creativity is when we make something

meaningful out of our imagination

thus these are images

these are concepts and ideas that we

generate that no one has ever made or

and has never conceptualized yet

fourth one is language this is the

medium by which we communicate in an

artwork or through an artworks for

example we have the words that are used

in novels we have the gestures that are

that are made by a dancer and etc etc

and next one is very the fifth one is

very

consumer-centered or audience-centered

which is interpretation now when we talk

about interpretation this is when we

make meaning

out of what is presented in front of us

an interpretation can be very fluid and

it's very open to

to

how

the

the audience or the consumer

is able to receive

what is communicated

that is why interpretation is very

very

audience or consumer center

and last one and sixth one is

may sound it may sound very far off but

actually it

influences

how

the art industry of that specific

community goes and this is political

economy so when we talk about political

economy this is how

power

and the distribution of economic sources

in the context of art production

so

in a community where in

artists are supported are funded it is

likely that

the art industry of that

community flourishes

unlike for example in a community

community wherein

art is discouraged and it's not funded

it is very likely that the art industry

of that community does not flourish

so those are the six fundamental

components of art

the next thing that we will be talking

about is the disciplines of art or what

i call as the four is

basically because it all of the words in

the disciplines of the art starts with a

and first of which is art production

now when we talk about art production

this is simply the response

to

the response of the artist to the

community to the environment where he

belongs to

thus this is basically the process of

creating an artwork

second one is art history now when we

talk about art history this is when we

study the art of the present and the

past in order to make sense of

what is happening right now and how art

has evolved through the years

of that in which there are components

that we have to consider

of which i will no longer discuss in

detail since more or less we will be

discussing them in the next few

in the next few discussions

third one is what we call art criticism

now art criticism is a way by which we

try to assess

the significance of an artwork to the

society and as well as appreciate it in

its form

in process

and fourth one is what we call

aesthetics when we call when we try to

think about aesthetics this is

the phenomena that we feel every time we

are presented

of something

so this is the o that we feel every time

we are

we are presented of an artwork

that is

striking this is the horror or the fear

that we feel every time we watch horror

movies and all of those emotions that

are going in or those that phenomena

that we feel every time we are faced

of an artwork

now that we have reached the end of our

discussion a reflection question will be

flashed on the screen and i will be

waiting for your answers in the comment

section in ms themes to where this is

posted

and if you have questions or concerns

regarding

the lesson or the topic you can always

send a message to me in the chat feature

of ms teams and at the same time you can

also ask your questions in our

synchronous session

so

that's about it for me

thank you everyone for watching and

see you soon

you