📝History of Art Criticism Unit 7 – Contemporary Art Criticism

Key Concepts and Theories

• Postmodernism questions grand narratives and universal truths, emphasizing pluralism, relativism, and the role of language in shaping meaning
• Semiotics studies signs and symbols, focusing on how meaning is constructed and interpreted in art (Roland Barthes)
  • Denotation refers to the literal meaning of a sign, while connotation explores its cultural and personal associations
• Deconstruction, as developed by Jacques Derrida, challenges binary oppositions and reveals the inherent instability of meaning in art and language
• Feminist art criticism examines gender representation, power structures, and the experiences of women artists (Linda Nochlin, Griselda Pollock)
• Postcolonial theory analyzes the impact of colonialism on art production and interpretation, addressing issues of cultural identity, hybridity, and power relations (Edward Said, Homi Bhabha)
• Institutional critique investigates the role of museums, galleries, and other art institutions in shaping the meaning and value of art (Hans Haacke, Andrea Fraser)
• Relational aesthetics, coined by Nicolas Bourriaud, focuses on art that creates social interactions and relationships between the audience and the artwork

Historical Context and Influences

• The rise of post-structuralism in the 1960s and 1970s, which emphasized the role of language and discourse in shaping meaning, greatly influenced contemporary art criticism
• The civil rights movement and feminist activism of the 1960s and 1970s led to increased attention to issues of identity, representation, and social justice in art criticism
• Postcolonial studies, which gained prominence in the 1980s, challenged Eurocentric perspectives and highlighted the experiences of marginalized communities
• The advent of new media technologies, such as video art and digital art, required critics to develop new frameworks for understanding and evaluating art
• Globalization and the rise of international art biennials and fairs in the 1990s and 2000s expanded the scope of contemporary art criticism beyond Western-centric perspectives
• The increasing influence of the art market and the commodification of art in the late 20th and early 21st centuries raised questions about the role of criticism in assigning value to artworks
• The Internet and social media have democratized art criticism, allowing for a greater diversity of voices and perspectives

Major Critics and Their Contributions

• Clement Greenberg championed formalism and modernism, emphasizing the flatness of the picture plane and the medium-specificity of painting (Abstract Expressionism)
• Harold Rosenberg introduced the concept of "Action Painting," focusing on the creative process and the artist's gesture (Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning)
• Lucy Lippard advocated for conceptual art and dematerialization, arguing that ideas take precedence over the physical form of the artwork
• Rosalind Krauss expanded the field of sculpture, incorporating new media and challenging traditional notions of medium-specificity (Robert Smithson, Richard Serra)
• Arthur Danto introduced the concept of the "artworld," suggesting that art status is conferred by the institutional and theoretical context in which an object is presented
• October, a influential art criticism journal founded in 1976, promoted postmodernist and post-structuralist theories (Rosalind Krauss, Hal Foster, Benjamin H. D. Buchloh)
• Dave Hickey celebrated beauty and the visual pleasure of art, challenging the dominance of conceptual and theory-driven approaches in contemporary criticism

Critical Approaches and Methodologies

• Formalist criticism emphasizes the visual elements and composition of an artwork, prioritizing form over content or context (Clement Greenberg)
• Iconography and iconology study the symbolic meaning of images and their cultural and historical significance (Erwin Panofsky)
• Marxist art criticism examines the relationship between art and economic, social, and political structures, focusing on issues of class, ideology, and power (John Berger)
• Psychoanalytic criticism explores the unconscious desires, fears, and conflicts expressed in art, drawing on the theories of Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan
• Semiotic analysis investigates the signs, symbols, and codes embedded in artworks and how they create meaning (Roland Barthes, Umberto Eco)
  • Syntagmatic relationships refer to the linear or sequential arrangement of signs, while paradigmatic relationships involve the selection of signs from a set of alternatives
• Reception theory considers the role of the viewer in creating meaning and the diverse interpretations that an artwork may generate (Wolfgang Iser, Hans-Robert Jauss)
• Interdisciplinary approaches draw on theories and methods from fields such as anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies to provide new perspectives on art (Clifford Geertz, Pierre Bourdieu)

Contemporary Art Movements and Trends

• Conceptual art prioritizes ideas over the final product, often using language, documentation, and instructions as the primary medium (Sol LeWitt, Joseph Kosuth)
• Performance art emphasizes the artist's actions and the viewer's experience, blurring the boundaries between art and life (Marina Abramović, Chris Burden)
• Installation art creates immersive environments that engage the viewer's senses and encourage interaction with the work (Olafur Eliasson, Yayoi Kusama)
• Video art explores the creative possibilities of moving images and often incorporates elements of performance, narrative, and documentary (Nam June Paik, Bill Viola)
• New media art encompasses digital technologies, computer graphics, virtual reality, and interactive installations (Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Cory Arcangel)
• Street art and graffiti challenge traditional notions of art display and ownership, often addressing social and political issues (Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat)
• Social practice art focuses on collaborative, community-based projects that prioritize engagement and social change over the creation of objects (Theaster Gates, Suzanne Lacy)

Case Studies: Analyzing Influential Works

• Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain" (1917) challenged traditional notions of art and authorship, paving the way for conceptual art and readymades
  • The work consists of a porcelain urinal signed "R. Mutt," which Duchamp submitted to the Society of Independent Artists exhibition under a pseudonym
• Jackson Pollock's "Number 1 (Lavender Mist)" (1950) exemplifies Abstract Expressionism and the concept of "Action Painting," emphasizing the artist's creative process and gesture
• Andy Warhol's "Campbell's Soup Cans" (1962) epitomizes Pop Art's embrace of consumer culture and mass media imagery, blurring the lines between high art and popular culture
• Judy Chicago's "The Dinner Party" (1974-1979) is a seminal work of feminist art, celebrating the achievements of historical and mythical women through a symbolic banquet setting
• Richard Serra's "Tilted Arc" (1981) sparked debates about public art, site-specificity, and the relationship between art and its audience
  • The large-scale, site-specific steel sculpture was controversially removed from a New York City plaza in 1989 after public opposition
• Felix Gonzalez-Torres's "Untitled (Perfect Lovers)" (1991) consists of two synchronized clocks, evoking themes of love, loss, and mortality in the context of the AIDS crisis
• Kara Walker's "A Subtlety, or the Marvelous Sugar Baby" (2014) addresses the history of slavery and racial stereotypes through a monumental sugar sculpture in the former Domino Sugar Factory

Debates and Controversies in Modern Criticism

• The role of the critic as a gatekeeper or arbiter of taste has been questioned, with calls for more inclusive and diverse perspectives in art criticism
• The influence of the art market on critical reception and the perceived conflict of interest between critics, galleries, and collectors has been scrutinized
• The "death of the author" debate, sparked by Roland Barthes's 1967 essay, challenges the notion of the artist as the sole source of meaning and emphasizes the role of the reader or viewer in interpretation
• The "culture wars" of the 1980s and 1990s in the United States highlighted tensions between conservative and progressive values in art and criticism (Robert Mapplethorpe, Andres Serrano)
• The appropriation of cultural imagery and the ethics of representation have been debated, particularly in relation to issues of cultural identity, power dynamics, and authorship (Sherrie Levine, Richard Prince)
• The role of social media and online platforms in democratizing art criticism and challenging traditional hierarchies has been both celebrated and critiqued
• The relationship between art criticism and social justice activism has been explored, with some critics advocating for a more politically engaged and socially responsible approach to criticism

Impact on Art Practice and Curation

• Contemporary art criticism has encouraged artists to engage with social, political, and theoretical issues, leading to the rise of conceptual, performance, and socially engaged art practices
• Critics have played a crucial role in validating new art forms and media, such as video art, installation art, and digital art, expanding the boundaries of what is considered art
• The influence of postmodernist and post-structuralist theories on art criticism has led to a greater emphasis on interdisciplinarity, appropriation, and the blurring of boundaries between high art and popular culture
• Art institutions, such as museums and galleries, have responded to critical debates by diversifying their collections, exhibitions, and curatorial approaches to include marginalized voices and perspectives
• The rise of the curator as a creative figure and the increasing importance of thematic and conceptual exhibitions have been influenced by developments in contemporary art criticism
• Critics have encouraged experimentation and risk-taking in art practice, supporting artists who challenge conventions and push the boundaries of their medium
• The growing attention to issues of representation, identity, and social justice in art criticism has led to more inclusive and diverse art ecosystems, with a greater focus on supporting emerging and underrepresented artists