Final Test Question 1

The first three images are abstract expressionist paintings. They are not supposed to be representational but the brushstrokes and paint splatters allow the paint to just be seen as paint. To a modernist this use of paint would be trying to capture the essence of the paint. The next three images are also abstract but they would be most interesting to a postmodernist viewer because of it's use of color theory. Postmodern artist are interested in topics related to diversity and race. In these images the appearance of the skin color changes based on what it is surrounded by just as the ideas about race and skin color change based on different surroundings and context. Addressing topics such as these are what postmodernists are really interested in.

Three questions for my students are:
What strategies were used in the first three paintings to allow the paint to speak for itself?
What could the last three paintings be saying about race and skin color?
How would the meaning of the last three paintings change if they were made by a different person?

Chaco Canyon

Arches National Park:

Hoveneep:

One of many sunset pictures I took in Chaco Canyon:

Kievas

Walking through ruins:

Ruins from above:

Pottery Shards:

Cornell West, bell hooks and Michel Foucault

In response to this post: http://397issuesincontemporaryart.blogspot.com/2016/09/httpwww_29.html

There have been many people who have contributed to postmodern idea's and have started conversations about many different area's of life.

Cornel West has done a lot of work on racial justice. He talks about how black Americans are treated poorly and works for people of his race to be treated fairly.

Bell hooks is a feminist author and has contributed to feminist theories. She focuses on how we should be accepting of differences whether they are different because of gender, class, race, or anything else. She also talks about the importance of including men in feminist discussions.

Michel Foucault was interested in the idea that history isn't just about what happened in the past but that history is meant to be learned from. He rejects the idea that the way we do things now is better than in the past.

All of these people have talked about ways to examine the way we think about the world and be more inclusive of what idea's are important. They deconstruct the way things are usually talked about and suggest new ways to think about the world.