Hannah Tierney
18 November 2016
Using Art to Send a Message
For centuries people have used art as a way to express the political views, or used artistic movements to express certain ideals. This can be seen in the idealized art of the Ancient Greeks, who strived to perfect the balance between man and nature, and portray harmony, balance, and democracy. In Nazi Germany, Hitler showcased art that was “un-German,” anything reflecting Jewish or communist ideology, was displayed in the Degenerate art show. This movement was used as propaganda; Hitler showed the public all the art that was not German. Today, many artists mock the commercialization of the art world and society itself using “pop-art” and othrr consumer trends in their work.
In Ancient Greece, philosophy and ideology shaped the views of the people living in the first democratic state. The Greeks never established a single nation; instead, they lived in city-states, and democracy began in Polis, later known as Athens. In Athens, artists strived to perfect their work and align it to the beliefs of the philosopher Pythagoras of Samos, who believed everything was based on mathematics and purification . The Ancient Greeks used their art to promote political, military, and religious ideology, depicting battle their victorious battles as though they were fought by the gods. The art of Ancient Greece was centered around religion and perfecting the balance between man, nature, and the divine.
This mentality led to the
The concept of Democracy dates back to the Classic Period, otherwise known as the Golden Age of Greece. Prior to becoming a unified nation, Greece was made up of city-states that were constantly warring with one another. None of these city-states possessed full control over its neighbors. It was during this time and because of these circumstances that there was great advancement in Greek thought encompassing philosophy and politics. These advancements are responsible for the strong Greek
The twentieth century was a strenuous yet a revolutionary time for humanity. Having two World Wars that ended in mayhem and drove a hole into the economy, there were also new political systems coming into play and many artists began to express their political opinion through every form of art known to man. For example, Wilfred Owen, in addition to being a solider in the World War One, he was also a famous poet. One of his most famous poems is “Dulce et Decorum Est” which was written specifically to describe the harsh reality of the war. Another form of art was Pablo Picasso’s painting “Guernica” which was also a response to politics. Wilfred Owen’s poem and Pablo Picasso’s painting were two very different forms of art that had similar responses to the historical and political events.
Art is not always pleasant, but neither is society. Art and society have a reflective relationship with one another. During social, religious, and political controversy, artists such as Frida Kahlo incorporated imagery into their portraits of society which are often disturbing to the viewer. The role of an artist often includes acting as a social critic, to show us aspects of our cultural landscape that are unpleasant. In this manner, the art acts as a commentary on the negative aspects of Western civilisation. During the thirties and forties, Kahlo incorporated the hidden realities of economic and social depression into her works.
In the ancient Greek world, religion was personal, direct, and present in its citizens’ daily lives. During this time, they participated in animal sacrifices and offerings, created myths to explain the beginning of the human race and gave reverence to their gods by building temples which controlled the urban landscape. They also participated in local festivals and sporting and artistic competitions. Religion was never out of the presence of ancient Greece’s citizens. While they may have made up their own mind on the terms of their religious beliefs, some may have been completely confused if these gods actually existed. There were certain fundamental beliefs that must have been sufficiently widespread, in order for the Greek government to function. In ancient Greece, gods existed, they influenced human concerns, and they welcomed and responded to acts of godliness and worship.
George Orwell famously declared »all art is propaganda.« Great works of art, in other words, have a very particular message for an intended audience. This function of art transcends historical periods, as is evident if one takes a closer look at the art of specific eras, such as Ancient Egyptian art. Ancient Egyptian art possessed a very specific propaganda function: to promote the divine origins and authority of the Pharaoh and thus a hierarchical social system.
Ancient Greece borrowed various of their concepts from the Egyptians and Mesopotamians to improve their individual and independent artistic identity through painting, sculpture, and architecture. Much of the artwork was government supported and available for public viewing in the cities. The Greeks were also involved in contributing to the beginning of medicine and astronomy and their perception of balance and proportion of form. The Greek government was minor and had several cities and states that were independent. This was different from Egyptian politics because it had a more conservative style.
During the 1930’s when Fascism was at it height, populist art fought against the domination of fascism by diverting the fashionable ideals of fascism with the ideas of populism. The US was producing popular art in its populous country to share the rest of the world as an attempt to ward off the Fascists. They decided to distract everybody from Fascism by art, film, dance, etc. that appealed to the similar but different enough ideals of populism and democracy.
The spreading of information is the mold to which society’s viewpoints are created. Depending on who or how this information is spread, it may be phrased to garner a specific meaning or arouse a specific reaction. W.E.B. DuBois once hinted towards this manipulation of information in his statement, “Thus all art is propaganda and ever must be, despite the wailing of the purists… I do not care a damn for any art that is not used for propaganda.” DuBois hints towards the fact that forms of expression, are when a specific thought or emotion is brought to reality to cause viewers to feel a specific way. Art would serve no purpose if it had no message to convey. Fahrenheit: 451 by Ray Bradbury depicts this message of propaganda as throughout
One of the most influential Greek city-states was Athens. They used a democratic arrangement of government, and the involvement in democratic operation was restricted to citizens. Social, economic, and political situations impacted art; writing, sciences, and art thrived in fifth century BCE. Athletes, artists, and great thinkers transpired out of ancient Greece. The origination of diverse art
The Anavysos Kouros, created around 530 B.C.E. in the Greek artistic period, depicts the religious aspect of Greece during the Ancient Mediterranean era. Arranged in “polis” (city states), the citizens of Greece followed this pre-dominant method of political organization. Aristocratic rule managed the Greek cities. The extremely urbanized society participated in heavy trade, which allowed the Greek economy to prosper. The religion of Ancient Greece emphasized multiple gods, worship, and afterlife. Thus, the Greeks believed in the existence of many gods and goddesses, which reflected the polytheistic nature of Greece. Zeus served as the king of the gods in the hierarchy of Greek religion and twelve major gods made up the Greek throne, coexisting with many minor gods. Some deities controlled elements of the world such as the sky, or the sea, while others controlled a more abstract aspect such as the hearth. Conclusively, The Greeks believed that the gods took the rituals and sacrifices as a gift as public festivals honored all the gods and hoped it would reap success in their lives. As a result, religion played a large role in the society of Ancient Greece.
One of the most influential Greek city-states was Athens. They used a democratic arrangement of government, and the involvement in democratic operation was restricted to citizens. Social, economic, and political situations impacted art; writing, sciences, and art thrived in fifth century BCE. Athletes, artists, and great thinkers transpired out of ancient Greece. The origination of diverse art formations demonstrated the political and economic
During the 1950’s art took a major turn in history from traditional styles depicting people and scenes of everyday life to abstract thoughts and ideas that were transformed onto a canvas to express emotions and ideals in society. People, events, and society have always impacted several styles of art, but the consumer culture in the 1950’s impacted art in a new completely unique way. Post WWII society was more industrialized and more focused on developing and selling new products. The postwar generation had more disposable income to spend on the latest and greatest products and the market turned to advertisements in mass media to get their products out there to consumers. With televisions and films increasing in popularity the market flooded these forms of media with catchy flashy ads that showed favorable people like movie stars using products. With the increasing use of mass media, the culture shifted to consumerism which effectively shifted art as well. Art was directly impacted by the consumer culture because of society’s use of advertisements, photographs, and films which artists like Richard Hamilton and Andy Warhol used those elements in their own works to portray the change of societal standards in a new modern style of art called pop art.
In order to discuss pop art I have chosen to examine the work and to some extent lives of Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol who were two of the main forces behind the American movement. I intend to reflect the attitudes of the public and artists in America at this time, while examining the growing popularity of pop art from its rocky, abstract expressionist start in the 1950s through the height of consumer culture in the 60s and 70s to the present day.
The central theme to this essay will be to answer the question “Discuss the roll that graphic design played in political/social change in a specific period”. This essay will look into what Hitler’s propaganda meant for the Nazis and the population of Germany. Propaganda is the dissemination of information to influence or control large groups of people. In totalitarian regimes like Nazi Germany, propaganda plays a significant role in consolidating power in the hands of the controlling party. (ushmm, 2015) This essay in conjunction will look into what Hitler’s propaganda meant, what methods conducted by Adolf Hitler and the Propaganda Ministry, directed by Dr. Joseph Goebbels use to infiltrate their enemies and commit mass genocide of the
It is believed that, in society, we can be controlled by art and it can be used as a weapon to dictate the way we think and view things. Jazz composer and artistic director Tim Hagans states that people are afraid of artists; they possess the power to encourage open-mindedness, individuality, and celebrate the importance of freedom of thought. “That is why in any repressive movement, it is the artists, regardless of their race, ethnicity or religious affiliation that are neutralised first” he told the World Artist Network. This, in terms of historical evidence, is true. When Italy was under fascist rule (1922-1943), Prime Minister Benito Mussolini ordered nationwide censorship and supervision of all art: radio stations, newspapers, cinema etc were all monitored to ensure that they did not criticise the state and