Art History Final - Keys

Question 1

Revolution

Answer 1

Theme: Revolution

Name: “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman”
Artist: Vera Mukhina
Date: 1937
Medium: Sculpture

Significance:
- Historical and Cultural Setting: It reflects Soviet ideals of teamwork and gender equality during Stalin’s rule in the 1930s.

• Relationship to Related Artworks: Mimics “Unique Forms of Continuity in Space” by boccioni. Forward mothion, movment, strength, etc
• Expression of Theme: shows the strength and progress of the Soviet people. It highlights the idea of unity and a better society.

Question 2

Realism

Answer 2

Theme: Realism

Name: “Mob Victim”
Artist: Lois Mailou Jones
Date: 1944
Medium: Painting

Significance:
- Historical Context: it responds to the violence inflicted upon African Americans during the Jim Crow era in the United States.

• Relation to other art: Different from other work of the times: other artest complained of having trouble depicting black people realistically. Lois Jones did not have this problem. It also notably did not show any violence inflicted, instead the moments of sorrow before.

-Expression of the Theme: The painting expresses the theme of realism by confronting viewers with the brutal truth of racial injustice and violence.

Question 3

Gesture

Answer 3

Theme: Gesture

Name: “Up to and Including Her Limits”
Artist: Carolee Schneeman
Date: 1973
Medium: Drawing

Significance:
- context: feminist art movement of the 1970s, challenging traditional representations of the female body and sexuality.

• relation: stands out for its bold and provocative exploration of bodily expression. it confronts societal taboo view of female sexuality.
• Theme: By using her body to create art, the product becomes a visual representation of her body in motion. this piece shows how Gesture is directly and fully integrated into the artwork

Question 4

Techno-Sublime

Answer 4

Theme: Techno-Sublime

Name: “Every Atom Glows: Electrons in Luminous Vibration”
Artist: Norman Lewis
Date: 1951
Medium: Painting

Significane:
- Context: post-World WWII when ppl were obsessed with science and technological progress. the artwork’s exploration of atomic energy and its impact on society

• relation: Its departure from realism allows viewers to contemplate the philosophical implications of scientific advancement.
• theme: communication across the eons.

Question 5

Commodity

Answer 5

Theme: Commodity

Name: “Tunafish Disaster”
Artist: Andy Warhol
Date: 1963
Medium: Print

Significance:
- Context: post-war America. rise of mass production and advertising. how this affected consumer goods and their symbolic significance.

relation: appropriation of everyday objects and images from popular culture. by doing this he challenges traditional notions of value and authenticity in art.

theme: expresses the theme of Commodity through its portrayal of a mass-produced consumer item. his use of silk screens also represents the reproducibility and value put on mundane items in life

Question 6

Post-Colonial

Answer 6

Theme: Post-Colonial

Name: “Self-Portrait, Accra, wearing kente cloth and lace”
Artist: Felicia Abban
Date: 1960
Medium: Photography

context: global impact of colonialism, and examines the confluence of modernity and tradition in post-colonial societiey

Question 6

Concept

Answer 6

Theme: Concept

Name: “Shoot-it-yourself-picture”
Artist: Niki de Saint Phalle
Date: 1964
Medium: sculpture AND painting

context: ppl were challenging traditional forms of art-making and the role of the viewer. focus shifted to concepts and ideas over artistic techniques.

relation: unlike all other work we have looked at, as it relied on other peoples performance to create the art. blurring the lines between creator and audience.

theme: combining sculpture and painting with viewer participation she prompts reflection on the nature of authorship and the transformative potential of art.

Question 6

Failure

Answer 6

Theme: Failure

Name: Pruitt-Igoe
Artist: Minoru Yamasaki
Date: 1954 - 1971
Medium: Archetecture
Where: St. Louis

Context: optimism of the post-World War II era. attempting to address urban failure by providing affordable housing for low-income residents. This did not end up working in the long run. The complex was destroyed in 71.

relation: in relation to the suberban planning we have seen, this public housing is very differnt. no space, no nature, nothin.

Theme: Originally conceived as a model of modernist urban renewal, the project ultimately became synonymous with poverty, crime, and social dysfunction.

Question 7

Feminine

Answer 7

Theme: Feminine

Name: “Learn Where the Mean Comes From”
Artist: Suzanne Lacy
Date: 1976
Medium: Video/performance

Context: second wave feminism. art during this time challenged gender norms and advocated for women’s rights

relation: her use of video is so direct and clear in its challenge of societal perceptions of femininity

theme: her performance challenges society and reclaims the feminine as a source of strength and empowerment

Question 7

Scale

Answer 7

Theme: Scale

Name: “Sun Tunnels”
Artist: Nancy Holt
Date: 1973 - 1976
Where: Utah
Medium: Earthwork Photography

context: Land Art movement of the 1960s and 1970. large-scale installations in natural settings.

relation: art exploring scale - this one is notable for its massive presence in the desert landscape.

theme: scale invites contemplation of humanity’s place in the immense natural world

Question 8

Memory

Answer 8

Theme: Memory

Name: Untitled (Portrait of Ross in LA)
Artist: Felix Gonzalez-Torres
Date: 1991
Medium: Installation

context: Created during the HIV/AIDS crisis and addresses themes of memory and loss prevalent in the LGBTQ+ community.

relation: rather than depicting death through one, he emphesizes the scale of loss through amount and depiction

Theme: reminds of the importance of collective remembrance in honoring those who have passed.

Question 9

Post-Human

Answer 9

Theme: Post-Human

Name: “Ear on Arm”
Artist: Stelarc
Date: 1996 - ongoing
Medium: Bio-art

Context: advancements in biotechnology and the increasing integration between technology and the human body that raised questions of identity, agency, and boundaries

Question 10

Global

Answer 10

Theme: Global

Name: “Moments of Glory”
Artist: Leila Pazooki
Date: 2010
Medium: Installation?

Context: during a boost in globalization, interconnectedness, cultural change, and breakdown of geographic barriers.

theme: exploration of the interconnectedness of diverse human experiences and perspectives