Modern Art Movements 1880 1950 WWs Great Depression

Modern Art Movements 1880 -1950 (WW’s, Great Depression, TV, Radio)

What is “man’s” place in the world?

Anti-hero • Not typical hero • Weird • Impulsive • Aloof; no social skills • Introspective • Alone • Outcast • BUT, has a goal. Is determined, is spirited, has an epiphany or moment of self realization

Impressionism • “In” nature; out of the studio • Breaking from traditional form of painting • More formless • Depth – mood, setting, character • Light vs dark • “Ephemeral” - fleeting moment • Rule of 3 rd’s • Araby by James Joyce

Impressionism Woman With Parasol and Child Claude Monet Sunrise (Marine) Claude Monet La Promenade Augusta Renoir

Araby, James Joyce • Setting – Dublin Ireland 1880’s • Plot – (impressionistic/formless) Unnamed boy is infatuated with Mangan’s sister. Finally speaks to girl (“light”) and indicates will go buy her something at the bazaar, bc she can’t go. Uncle/Aunt (home life) very dark; Uncle drunk/late therefore, late getting to bazaar. • Mood = depressing/dark/old • Anti-hero = boy • Epiphany – bazaar is a disappointment; he has been a fool to think that the girl would like him; buys nothing at the bazaar. Life is full of disappointments. • Modern? – self conscious examination, feelings, light/dark contrasts

Post-Impressionism • Different techniques (Pointillism) • Different subjects • No point of Dominance • Back in the studio (some) • Scientific application to painting • “Infant Prodigy” – Thomas Mann • “decay of western world”/Fauvism

"Sunday Afternoon" by Georges Pierre Seurat "The Bathers" by Georges Pierre Seurat

Starry Night By Vincent Van Gogh Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers

The Scream By Edvard Munch The Murderer

Henri Matisse Dance (I) Henri Matisse Harmony in Red

Pablo Picasso Ma Jolie Pablo Picasso Les Demoiselles d'Avignon

Guernica

Infant Prodigy – Thomas Mann • Setting – Rise of Nazism • Plot – Bibi (prodigy) is performing in the concert hall while the audience has negative thoughts (layers – cubism/fauvism); not really focusing on the fabulous performance; everyone is jealous of Bibi (decay of the western world) • Anti hero/outcast – Bibi • NO epiphany – the girl has it (artists have insight into society’s issues bc they are observers) • Depth/layers – many backstories; feelings

Existentialism • People are alone in a meaningless universe producing anxiety, depression and despair. • World in chaos; absurdity! • Meaning only found from within • Society out of control • Surrounded by mediocrity (average; uninspiring) • Examples: “Plastic Bag”, Casablanca, The Wall – Sartre, • Bridge between Existentialism and Surrealism – “Gimpel the Fool”

Alberto Giacometti The Piazza Walking Man Standing Woman

Study after Velázquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X By Francis Bacon Self-Portrait

The Wall – Jean Paul Sartre • Setting: Spain 1930’s; Spanish Civil War; hospital being used as a prison • Characters: Pablo Ibbieta, Tom, Juan, Belgian doctor, (Ramon Gris) • Mood: Hopelessness due to impending death of anarchists • Plot: Men are sentenced to death and have nothing else to think about. Pablo sends Fascists to Ramon’s hiding place in cementary, however Ramon is found and killed. • Ironic ending, but theme: life is meaningless no matter what you do, it doesn’t matter.

Casablanca • Review Chart for specific movie examples of • People alone in meaningless world producing anxiety and despair • Society in chaos • Corrupt bureaucracy (black market; Capt Renault) • Setting – Casablanca (microcosm of chaotic society)Rick – Antihero (I stick my neck out for no one; I’m the only cause I’m fighting for) Epiphany to find meaning – bar discussion with Laszlo • Laszlo – Traditional hero/not existential • Ending? Very open ended/very existential

Traditions and Ethnicity - Community Diego Rivera, Flower Festival Frida Kahlo, Self Portrait

Traditions and Ethnicity - Community Ball in Columbia, Botero Neighorhood, Lawrence

Folk Art – Community (Gimpel the Fool) • Dealt with ethnicity and traditions • Connection to community and folk art • Are human values so debased (corrupt) that only the simpleton (fool) is wise? (Grandfather = wise) • Setting: Frampol, Poland • Characters: Gimpel, Elka, Spirit of Evil • Plot: Villagers always deceiving/fooling Gimpel bc gullible/believes everything (why shouldn't he? ) • Lesson? : Better to be a fool, than evil once

Surrealism Trying to make sense out of the senseless “Journey Through the Night”

Surrealism • Fantastic imagery derived from dreams, fears, absurd combinations and chance. • Unconscious: a wellspring of untapped creative ideas • Revolt againstitutions and philosophies that led younger generation to war • Alienation from society and culture • Questioning: traditions, rules, concepts of order, coherence, and beauty

Salvador Dali The Persistence of Memory Metamorphosis of Narcissus

Rene Magritte Golconda The Son of Man Not to be Reproduced

Joan Miro Harlequin Carnival The Tilled Field

Journey Through the Night, Jakov Kind • Setting: Train to Paris middle of the night • Characters: Cannibal (surreal!) and passenger • Surreal: making sense of the senseless • Anti-hero: passenger • Epiphany: Initially the passenger feels that he has no purpose; he needs to think hard for a reason to live. He realizes his purpose is not to be the cannibal’s next meal. • Indictment of modern man? Man has left himself so little of value in this life that the passenger has nothing left to live for.

The Theory behind Abstract Expressionism • Emerged in NYC during the 1940 s - 50 s • Used all parts of huge canvases equally • Attempted to transfer pure emotion and identity directly onto the canvas. • Painting = communication • “Action” Painting: accidents; spontaneity and improvisation, the process, energetic gesture • “Automatism” – Abandon conscious control https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Z 2 HN 9 G 4 Lx_w

Jackson Pollock Mural 1943

Willem de Kooning Woman The Visit

Mark Rothko Untitled No. 13 (White, Red, on Yellow) No. 10

Abstract Expressionism • “Gogol’s Wife” • Lars and the Real Girl (lots of introspection) • Intertwining philosophies • Surrealism (“doll” volunteers, job, involved, hospital scene, community outreach) • Abstract Expressionism (transfer emotions to Bianca; Lars communicating he has unresolved problems) • Existentialism (finding meaning in chaos) • Modern Traits (introspective – Guz apologizes) • Cultural traditions (community; sitting/casseroles)