The Case for Copying | The Art Assignment | PBS Digital Studios

Summary

This video explores the concept of art appropriation, examining how artists like Walker Evans and Sherri Levine use copying to challenge notions of originality and authenticity. It delves into the history of artistic imitation, the role of context in art, and the impact of mass media on visual representation, ultimately questioning the value of a signature in art.

Takeaways

• 📸 The script discusses the concept of copying in art, contrasting Walker Evans' original 1936 photographs with Sherri Levine's 1981 reproductions, emphasizing the difference between documentation and artistic expression.
• 🎨 It explores the prevalence of copying in modern art, questioning whether it signifies creative inadequacy or a commentary on an image-saturated world.
• 🤔 The script prompts the audience to consider how to distinguish between copying and the historical use of allusions, influences, and visual sampling in art.
• 🖼️ It highlights the tradition of artists copying each other for various reasons, such as training, innovation, or to signal influence, using Raphael, Velasquez, and Picasso as examples.
• 👤 The script describes how images are not neutral but instruments that influence our perception of ourselves and others, with Manet's 'Old Musician' serving as an example of a composite image with multiple citations.
• 🔍 The discussion introduces 'appropriation art' and its focus on representation, citing the 'Pictures Generation' artists who used existing images to explore the structures of signification.
• 🎭 The script mentions how pop art, with its use of mass media images, blurred the lines between art and commercial products, as exemplified by Andy Warhol's work.
• 🤝 It contrasts pop art's embrace by the art market with appropriation art's more critical relationship with popular imagery, aiming to understand the psychological impact of images.
• 🏆 The script challenges the notion of the 'original genius' through appropriation art, suggesting that the concept is a myth linked to societal power structures.
• 👉 It points out that copying in art is about making fresh meanings through interaction with existing signs and symbols, emphasizing the importance of context in understanding art.
• 🌐 Finally, the script reflects on the broader implications of copying, suggesting that it exposes the myth of originality and highlights the power dynamics that determine representation in society.

Q & A

What was the purpose of Walker Evans' photographs from 1936?

Walker Evans' photographs from 1936 were taken to document the American South during the Great Depression. He was hired by the Farm Security Administration for this purpose.

What is the significance of Sherri Levine's photographs in relation to Walker Evans' work?

Sherri Levine's photographs, taken in 1981, were reproductions of Walker Evans' photographs. They are part of a series titled 'After Walker Evans', raising questions about the nature of originality and the role of copying in art.

What is the role of copying in the history of art?

Copying has been a longstanding practice in art, used for training, demonstrating stylistic innovation, signaling influence, claiming prestige, or reworking subjects. It is not merely about imitation but also about engaging with existing imagery and traditions.

How did Raphael's portrait of Pope Julius II influence later artists?

Raphael's portrait of Pope Julius II served as a model for Velasquez's portrait of Pope Innocent X, which in turn inspired Francis Bacon to create over forty-five versions of his own, each reflecting the psychological depths of the subject.

What is the concept of 'appropriation art'?

Appropriation art is a movement where artists use existing images or cultural objects in their work. It foregrounds representation itself and explores how images inform our psyche and provide a basis for collective life.

What was the significance of the 'Pictures' exhibition curated by Donald Kuspit in 1977?

The 'Pictures' exhibition brought together artists interested in understanding the picture itself. It marked the emergence of the 'Pictures Generation', who plundered existing images for their own work, focusing on the structure of signification rather than sources or origins.

How did Cindy Sherman's work challenge traditional notions of portraiture?

Cindy Sherman's work involved photographing herself in poses and scenarios of generic feminine personas, challenging expectations and demonstrating how each portrait is influenced by our associations with other images and narratives.

What is the relationship between pop art and mass media?

Pop art, including works by artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, built upon the ubiquity of mass media images. It used images from pop culture and commercial products, reflecting and critiquing the pervasive influence of mass media.

How does appropriation art challenge the concept of artistic originality?

Appropriation art questions the value added by a signature and the authority of the artist over the meaning of a work. It suggests that the idea of the original genius is a myth and that the context and history of images are integral to their meaning.

What is the role of the art market in the reception of pop art and appropriation art?

The art market quickly embraced pop art as another luxury object, while appropriation art had a different relationship with popular imagery, focusing more on understanding the psyche and challenging the structures of power that determine what kinds of representation are made available in society.

How does the concept of 'the death of the author' relate to the discussion of copying in art?

The concept of 'the death of the author' suggests that the author has no particular authority over the meaning of a text or artwork. This idea is relevant to copying in art as it emphasizes the role of the viewer in interpreting the work and the web of connotations and cultural significance that a work exists within.