Primitivism, Freuds Psychoanalytic Theories, Mass Culture and Realism - Assignment Example

Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code & Name: Date of Submission: INTRODUCTION Modern art brought a lot of changes in arts, particularly on rules that were observed by traditional artist. Great examples of this milestone made by the modern artist include work of art depicting contemporary life such as sufferings, prosperity and cultural setting of the community in subject matter. The success of modern art is encircled to efforts made by a number movement which includes realism, expressionism etc.Each movement showed certain themes such as use of primitivism, Freud’s psychoanalytic theories, mass culture and realism. These themes are elaborated below; USE OF PRIMITIVISM Name of artwork: Artillerymen (Das Soldatenbad) Artist: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner Year: 1915 Movement: Primitivism Artillerymen is work of art that depicts primitivism style due to awkward and inhuman condition subjected to individuals. Ernst Ludwig’s painting above shows a clothed and armed military man guarding other naked military men. The naked military men are taking shower in a low ceiling room which is open and overcrowded.Consequently, toilet is in the same room which is not hygienic for human being(Guggenheim.org). According to ‘Artillerymen’ by Ernst, depicts primitivism during world war, where soldiers were subjected to inhuman conditions for example , soldiers didn’t have privacy in regard to their nakedness since they all bath in a common bathroom with toilet inside. Secondly, soldier guarding other soldiers while they are bathing is another sign of primitivism since we are able to note that soldiers were forced to be soldiers rather than being a personal decision to enroll in military. This shows how threatening life of a soldier during World War I&II looked like. EXPRESSION OF FREUD’S PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORIES Name of artwork: Knight Errant (Der irrende Ritter) Artist: Oskar Kokoschka Year: 1915 Movement: Expressionism Knight Errant is painting shows Kokoschka at the center dressed in armor. He is desperate and showing signs of giving up to the storms showed in the background. We see winged-man and a woman behind Kokoschka. Consequently, a dark cloud has covered the whole place. This painting therefore, depicts use of Freud’s psychoanalytic theories style used to express certain concern in the society. The appropriateness of Knight Errant to above theme can be seen in different aspects. Kokoschka in dressed in armor showed a fighter who fought internal battle of abortion. Despite being shielded, the situation is getting worse, making him desperate and he is looking for help from God or supernatural being. The woman at the back is the woman who aborted and winged-man is the death soul. They are major reason of Kokoschka repression or internal conflict and depression(Alexander and Taylor). The storm signifies the internal struggle or dilemma in his life. He therefore, painted out of his emotions which utilizes psychoanalytical style. MASS CULTURE Name of artwork: I was a Rich Man’s Plaything Artist: Sir Eduardo Paolozzi Year: 1947 Movement: Pop art ‘I was a Rich Man’s Plaything’, Eduardo’s painting shows intimate confession novel pulp, airplane which was military recruitment advertisement, man holding a gun and Coca Cola advertisement. The three items are combined into one painting. This qualifies this piece of art to have used mass culture style. Combination of the three items into one piece of art is one of the mass culture style since they believed that everything is interconnected to something. In our case, Eduardo’s novel pulp, military recruitment advertisement and Coca Cola advertisement. Mass culture art is very wide too since artists do not restrict themselves. Their work ranges from cartoon, imaginary objects, funny images and advertisements. For example, I was a Rich Man’s Plaything is a mixture of advertisement and novel’s pulp and it doesn’t express any emotion thus bridging between high and low culture(Guggenheim.org). REALISM Name of artwork: Collective Farm Worker on a Bicycle Artist: Alexander Deineka Year: 1935 Movement: Socialist Realism ‘Collective Farm Worker on a Bicycle’, Alexander’s work of art depicts the use of realism style. The painting shows a lady riding bicycle and farm behind her. The road is steep, very long and with potholes too. According to Holt (1912), new realism artists used contemporary style in their artistic works a way to pass message, revolutionized citizens against political rule or expose unfair treatment in the society. For example, the painting by Alexander is in Russian context passing message of collectivism and technology. The collectivism culture depicted on Collective Farm Worker on a Bicycle is in the dressing of the woman ridding bicycle since white shoes, red socks and bright red dress symbolizes Russian flag which is a sign of patriotism(Guggenheim.org). She’s also demonstrating equality in society since country’s prosperity is reached through collective efforts of both men and women without discrimination on certain tasks. Bicycle symbolize technological advancement since the woman above uses less energy and save time since she can move faster with bicycle rather than walking. CONCLUSION In conclusion, we can note that most of themes are still being practiced today by artist. This artist uses this work of art to depict various scenarios. For example, Realism has gained popularity as from 1945 to date as a result of its use of contemporary style. It is always evident during demonstration of workers or citizens of countries with unstable political condition such as dictatorial government. Most of the banners or artistic work in these countries is made with intention to pass a massage to the public or rectify the situation. Mass culture too has gained more popularity from 1945 to date due to its commercial benefits and pleasure it brings to the artist and viewers of this work of art. Most platforms of mass culture artistic work are billboard, television, magazine, books and newspapers.The major reason why it gained popularity is because of its characteristic of inter-connection. For example, artist can paint or draw something humorous as away to captivate attention of the prospective audience, then pass the massage such as advertise a product or company. Feud’s Psychoanalytical theme gained popularity from 1945 to date due to its dynamic and characteristics since no one fails to have emotions and the rise of human right campaigns.But primitivism has not gained much popularity in comparison to other three themes due to its low dynamics or limited scope. Though it is stilled being practiced for example to critics certain barbaric political governance as from 1945 to date. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Alexander, Sally, and Barbara Taylor.History And Psyche. Print. Guggenheim.org,. 'The Guggenheim Museums And Foundation'. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. Holt, Edwin Bissell. The New Realism. N.Y.: Macmillan, 1912. Print. Kaufman, Irving, and John P. Sedgwick.'Discovering Modern Art'.Art Education 20.6 (1967): 33. Web. Mitchell, John B., and Charles McCurdy.'Modern Art'.Art Education 12.4 (1959): 11. Web. Rublowsky, John, and Ken Heyman.Pop Art. New York: Basic Books, 1965. Print. Vlach, John Michael. Plain Painters. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1988. Print. Wasserman, Burton, and Robert Goldwater. 'Primitivism In Modern Art'. Art Education 21.2 (1968): 42. Web. Read More