Visual Arts Manet - Research Paper Example

? Visual Arts Visual Arts Visual art is one of the important ways of passing some cultural message, form onegeneration to another. Visual art borrows its ideas and builds on previous arts. In this paper, we are going to see how this applies. We are going to start by introducing an artistic article, which Manet produced in the 17th century. In addition, we will have a brief overview of one of the latest artistic works, which catches the public’s attention. We are then going to look at the differences in the current time, and the old times. We are then going to look at the difference in thinking between the artist and the public opinion. We are finally going to conclude by airing opinions, on whose thinking creates an insight to the human population (Sturken & Cartwright, 2008). As I had mentioned, we shall start by analyzing Manete’s work, of 1862-3. Le dejeuner sur l'herbeis is one of the initial artistic wok that Manet ever did. He made this painting in 1862-3. It generated substantial debate amongst many young painters, who desired to create impressionism in art. Together with Olympia, they marked the genesis of modern art. In English, this piece of art means the luncheon on the grass. It is a sketch like art, which comprises of two men and one woman. The men are well groomed in black coats and superb pairs of trouser. On the other hand, the lady is entirely nude. On the other end, there is another woman seem to be washing something in a river. The whole setting is in the wild. The three (i.e. the two men and the naked lady) appear to be discussing something. The lady is more aligned to the man on her right side, and his legs are crossing under hers. There is a basket of fruits, and some snacks by their side. The food stuff is in a disorganized manner, which is suggestive that they have already dealt with it, though there are some remainders. This piece of art was out rightly rejected in 1863, at the Paris salon (Herbert,1991). After the rejection, it was exhibited at “salon of the rejected” later in the same year. Emperor Napoleon instigated this salon, after the rejection of more than 4,000 paintings, during that year’s salon. Another thing that led to its rejection is the fact that it had a sketch-like handling and innovation. This piece of art reveals that Manet had studied previous arts. This is evident through the fact that the main figures in this art were similar to those of Judgment of Paris. Judgment Paris is an engraving by Raimondi’s. It was made in c.1515 and was grounded on Raphael’s drawing. He also seems to have borrowed a leave from the tempest. The tempest was developed in c.1510. He also seems to have taken some idea from the pastrol concert. In the pastrol concert, two fully groomed men, and a nude woman, seated on some grass while making some music. All the artistic works we have mentioned above seem to be carrying some vital cultural information. For instance, there is the common message of gender, and gender role in portrayed in them. They portray the role of a woman in the traditional, western society. The woman is portrayed as the minor, while men are portrayed as senior. This is shown through the act of drawing the women naked, while the men are fully groomed. The roles of a woman are also portrayed in Manet’s oil painting, whereby the woman is doing some washing, while the men and the other naked woman, are just seated down. In addition, it seems to pet ray the traditional western culture, and their way of living, and entertainment. For instance, they would go out into the natural world; in this case the forest, where they would have their meals/snacks. For instance, in the pastrol concert, the characters enjoy playing music, while seated on the grass. Apparently, in their culture, it was a form of entertainment to see naked women. Fantasy rape “, is a recent (2007) advertisement, which triggered a pronounced debate amongst many people. It is a print advertisement, which comprises of a young lady, pinned down by a young man, as other five young men watch along. She is still on her clothes and shoes, while the man is half naked, and seems to be removing the rest of his clothes while struggling with the lady. The other three men are fully dressed, while one on the right side is half-naked and appear to be anticipating for the next step form the man pinning the woman. The authors of the advert claim that it is an artistic work, which is meant to express a woman’s fantasy of being gang raped. However, critics say that after a careful scrutiny, one can realize that the woman in context does not seem to be enjoying the action, and so, the author’s utterances are questionable. Others say that the piece of work could be a source of perversion in the society. This artistic work appears to have built up on former artistic works, for example, from the Manet’s oil painting. Like the Manet’s piece of work, this advert portrays the western culture. The only difference is that it portrays the western culture, in a modernized society, or rather, the current society. Going by the author’s words, the art reflects reversed roles in the current society. The woman is the one demanding the sexual act, rather than the man. This is unlike in Manet’s work. In the modern world, the source of entertainment is from advanced technological devices, rather than from nature. The advert shows this clearly, since it is meant to be in magazines, or televisions. The environment, in which the subjects are in, also reflects an environment that the modern culture is based. On comparing, this piece of work with that of Manet, we realize that there are similarities and differences, between the times when the two works are produced. The two of them indicate that time has remained the same in some ways. This is reflected through the fact during both times women are not respected. In addition, sex is seen as a source of entertainment. For instance, in Manet’s piece of work, the woman’s intimacy is not respected. While the men are well dresses, the woman is naked in the forest. Note that the woman in this case is vulnerable to acquiring some genital or urinary system infections. This is because she is seated fully naked in a forest, whereby many microbes breed. The woman in the art can be perceived as a source of entertainment to the man. This is a typical demonstration of how women are undermined, and viewed in the society of those days. In the Dolce’s piece of work, a woman is not respected. This is seen through the act of being forced to engage in sex. Sex is supposed to a voluntary act, and not a forced thing. To make matters worse, she is not granted her privacy, as the men force her into the act of sex; this is intimidating to any normal human being. Disrespect for women seems to have been carried on, from time in memorial, into the current times. Secondly, the two arts demonstrate that time has not made a difference in people’s perception towards their health. In Manet’s piece of work, the characters put their food stuff on the dirty earth; in the forest. The woman sits naked, on the same ground. Another lady seems to be washing off her dirt on a nearby river. They all seem oblivious of the many infections microbes that may be found on such an environment. Many researches have shown that such an environment is a potent breeding place for microbes. For instance, the amoeba and bacteria can flourish well on such grounds. In the 2007 work, the gang rapists seem to be oblivious of their health risk. For instance, during this duration, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other STIs is on the rise. The characters do not seem to be bothered by the fact that they can acquire such infections. All in all there are a few indicators that time has changed. For instance, the code of dressing. In Dolces’ advert, the lady is dressed quite differently, as compared to the washing lady in Manet’s work. In Dolce, she is groomed in some short sleeveless dress, and high heeled shoes. In the other case, (though it is not clear) the lady is in some long clothing. The gentleman’s way of dressing is also quite different. The difference in dressing code can be attributed to the fact that fashion is dynamic, and evolving from generation to another. Another indicator of change of things with time is the environment in both works. While Manet’s work is drawn in a remarkably natural environment, Dolces’ advert is created in an environment that appears modified. Though both are in open places, there is a vast difference in the environment. In Dolce’s advert, there are no natural trees or rivers. This is reflective of the current world. It shows how human population has displaced nature, by cutting trees and building houses in their place. As we had mentioned earlier, the two pieces of work triggered serious debate amongst the public. They led to a lot of criticism and even rejection. The Dolce’s and Gabanna advert was forbidden in the Italian publication, just as Manet's work was banned from the Paris salon. In fact, the Manet piece of work led to the temporally shut down of the salon of the rejected, once its existence in this salon was realized. This shows that the artists and the public have a significant difference in their line of thinking, as we are going to discuss below. There are several meaningful audiences in response to artistic works. These are the traditionist, the postmodernists, the second order believers and the game players. The traditionist do not look beyond what they see. They trust whatever they receive or view, at face value. Post modernists are extremely insidious. They do not believe in existence of authenticity. Owing to this they are not associated with the work by any means. They include the conservative, religious individuals, and the busy people. The second order believers believe that there is some level of authenticity, though they actively criticize the artistic works, unlike the post modernists; they are flexible. They are open minded though critics. The game players are same as the postmodernists. However, unlike the postmodernists, they engage in criticism of the artistic works, for the sake of their own entertainment (Fuery & Mansfield, 2005). The rejection of these pieces of art is due to such a wide variety of audience. However, in this case, we are going to discuss mainly on the commercial thinker, and the artists thinking about the pieces of work(Fuery & Mansfield, 2005). While the artists think on the lines of stimulating people’s sexual fantasy, the commercial thinker view it as a source of disappointment to their business. The artists view is seen when Gabbana, uttered his apologies in public and said that he did not mean to demean women; instead, he aimed at arousing people’s sexual fantasy. Many people and gender organizations have aired their opinion on how the advertisement is demeaning to women. Rape victims feel irritated by Dolce’s and Gabanna’s advert. Instead of triggering some sexual pleasure, it triggers painful memories, which are extremely traumatizing. During his artistic work, Manet seems to have been enthused to entertain people using some sexual fantasy. To him the art was aimed at triggering some creativity in sex. He was oblivious of how demeaning this would be to the female viewers. He did not consider the impact of grooming his male characters, while leaving the female character naked, would have to the general public. Commercial people see the two pieces of work as a source of embarrassment, and vast humiliation to the female gender, in addition, the commercial thinker views the pieces of work as an arbitrator to immorality in the society. They prefer not to put the work in their shops/ business enterprises, owing to this. On the other hand, the artist sees it as a source of entertainment. The commercial thinkers’ way of thinker offers insight to the human condition, as compared to the artists’ way of thinking. This is because, in the actual sense, a woman is demeaned and ill-treated in many societies. Since time in memorial, the society has viewed women as a source of entertainment rather than descent human beings. People associate men with power. His opinion is respected under all conditions; unlike a woman. This is a thing that has being facing formidable opposition in the current society. Putting such works in the public’s eye, one may lose his or her popularity, especially from the intimidated individuals(Fuery & Mansfield, 2005).. Secondly, the commercial thinkers’ idea that these pieces of art are likely to promote immorality in the society holds water. This is because they trigger unwanted thoughts in the general public. For instance, the “gang rape” advert can trigger thoughts of rape in an irrational human being. It makes rape appear like an entertaining act, yet it is a criminal offence and dehumanizing. This makes the pieces of art to be more of a liability, rather than an asset. References Fuery, P & Mansfield N.2005. Cultural Studies and Critical Theory. Australia: Oxford University Press Herbert, R.1991. Impressionism: Art, Leisure, and Parisian Society. U.S.A: Yale University Press. Sturken, M. and Cartwright,L. 2008. An Introduction to Visual Culture. Second Edition.U.S.A: Oxford University Press. Read More