SO WHAT IS ART, IN THE 21ST CENTURY?
Artists, as everyone else, are constantly bombarded with disheartening news and want to be able to do something about it, which, in many cases, comes through in our art and writing. I recently returned to university to pursue a degree in Art History and English and even my fellow classmates, as well as myself, attempt to discuss and write on topics that may transcend, and challenge, the ‘natural environments’ of those areas of study.
Twenty-first century visual art and writing may be reinforcements of Jacques Derrida’s idea of deconstruction. Artists today rearrange the normal molecules of traditional art and transcend normal dimensions. They factor down their work to its purest form, sort of like a return to Plato’s philosophy. Thus, we leave our caves of tradition, as we attempt to investigate just what drives us to create. I found myself pondering on this school of thought, as I was creating ‘I can’t hear the notes, cause the music’s too loud’.
In my opinion, simply creating art for beauty’s sake may no longer be the norm for 21st century artists. Expressions of our era, as well as our opinions about it, is the artist’s way of giving the viewer some ‘food for thought’ on current events.
Our art is our contribution to society, as well as a form of art therapy, to those who view our work. This, in itself, is our transcendence into another dimension.
Elf Evans
Very well put…my Friend!
mufa
Sharon,
Very interesting observations.
I would find it difficult to disagree with the majority of your points – except for one, the idea that this is pertinent to the 21st century.
I think it was the 20th century that saw a mass exodus from the ‘caves of tradition’ and that was the era in which the ‘molecules of tradition’ were significantly dismantled.
Of course, the idea of ‘art and beauty’ still predominates in many areas – nothing wrong with that, everyone to their own. However anyone who has studied art in any depth is well aware of the potential that art possesses to engage in any number of fields.
I also rather think that Derrida would disagree with the idea that the artist has a ‘role’ or a ‘duty’. At least he would probably point to a deconstruction of these terms and conclude that they cannot be pinned down!
Where art heads next is, of course, the really interesting question.
I rather suspect that this will owe more to an evolutionary momentum than any prediction [or lobby] that you or I can offer.
The making of art is of course unrestricted. It is only the reception to that art which faces constraints.
Final point – I really like the excellent title ‘I can’t hear the notes, cause the music’s too loud’.
Caroline (KARO...
An Art which is alive , doesnt reproduce the past!it continues it![]()
and James Joyce wrote that the important thing in Art was the vital depth from which it came and not only a revelation of ideas, and spiritual essences,unshapped!
Dont you think that the Artist is the one who,using his creation as a vector to bring up, from each of the receiver, the potential which is unknown in each person, each soul!
To go , beyond what is seen, and understood or sensed,so that the invidual ,can start to see, feel, live on a differant horizon! cannot be said that he has a kind of mission?
Caroline (KARO...
mission =ME /SCISSION (or cutting away from the past!)
you are quite right in saying that one needs to cut awy from the past values, to be able to go further and go beyond!
may be my english was not up to date so as to understand or share my thoughts!
Arnold Isbister
Great topic…..read my poem “Artist’s Lament”.
Art has become after-the-fact. Artists now take what is here/there then art’talk to make it Art.
Conceptual has become “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”