Midterm Flashcards
Define Art
Art is a skilled, symbolic representation of reality made for the purpose of opening our
perception to its meaning
How do Christians approach art?
- We imitate the Creator
- We do our work before Him, meaning our work has inherent meaning whether we intend it or not
- As we do art, there are a couple of things we should strive for
- As we consume art, there are things that we should affirm and other things that we should critique
How should art be honest?
Art should honestly recognize the reality of sin, look to the cross and the hope of the future, and hold both of these things in tension (against Kinkade and Picasso)
Art should reflect Christian themes, such as Creation, Fall, Redemption, Sanctification, and Consummation
Art should be constructive rather than destructive
Corollaries: art should not be sentimental and prescribe a response to the audience, but it should evoke a response; art should be meaningful in and of itself for the glory of God
However, the meaning of art should not be on the nose or flat, but honestly portray complex issues and arrive at truthful and good conclusions
History of 20th Century Art
Impressionism was a reaction to photography; realism had already plateaued and you can’t get much more real than a photograph, so artists had to pivot and offer something different to survive
Cezanne took this and ran with it, adopting the Kantian noumenal/phenomenal distinction, untethering his works from reality, only using reality as a jumping off point
Post-Impressionism carried on Cezanne’s themes through notable artists such as Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Picasso
- Realism
- Impressionism
- Fauvism
- Cubism (Analytic & Synthetic)
- Futurism
- Dada
- De Stijl
- Surrealism
Fauvism (1904-08)
Chief exponents were Henri Matisse and Andre Derain
Inherited Paul Gauguin’s emphasis on colour
(Gauguin saw colour as having a vocabulary all its own, and as such can express the feelings of the artist rather than being limited to merely describing the scene)
Marked by simplified drawings and exaggerated colour
Artists were known as the Fauves (wild beasts)
Cubism (1907-1919)
Founded by Picasso and Braque and heavily influenced by Cezanne
Abstract, or an art that abstracts itself from its subject
Semi-Abstration: still has one foot in representation
Pure Abstraction: uses visual elements such as colour, line, or shape as the subject itself
In Cubism, the artist goes beyond two dimensions, attempting to capture the object from all angles simultaneously
Sought to draw on the expressive energy of other cultures
Broke the tradition of viewing the subject from a fixed point of view
Analytic Cubism (pre-1912):
(i) analyzed the subject in order to understand its shapes and lines;
(ii) broke it up into flat, geometrical planes and angles;
(iii) is like looking through a crystal
Synthetic Cubism (post-1912):
(i) began to use brighter colours, sometimes collage, and a mix of textures;
(ii) simpler lines and shapes;
(iii) rather than breaking the subject up into lines and shapes, it is instead built up from the
imagination;
(iv) it is synthetic in the sense of being built up, but also in the sense of being fake—it imitates textures and surfaces
Futurism (1909-1914)
Largely an Italian movement
Emphasized speed, movement, and technology
Took some visual cues from Cubism, but rather than having the sense of the artist moving around the subject, it has the sense of the
subject moving around the artist;
the result is a more dynamic feel
Dada (1913-mid 1920s)
Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray
Explicitly an Anti-Art movement, as well as an Anti-Bourgeois and Subversive movement
Sought to de-deify the artist
Sought to undermine the structures of society
Used demonstrations and satire
Used found objects, collage, and assemblage to create purposely nonsensical objects
Influenced Surrealism and Pop Art
De Stijl (1917-1931)
Dutch movement
Style of pure abstraction
Developed by Piet Mondrian, Theo Van Doesburg, and Bart van der Leck
Mondrian sought to develop an international visual language free from the nationalism that had led to WWI
Mondrian saw his grids of line and colour as expressing universal principles of harmony
Surrealism (1920s-early 1930s)
Salvador Dali, Giorgio de Chirico, and Paul Klee
Grew out of Dad
Built upon Freud’s theories of psychoanalysis
Was a reaction to the horror of WWI
Saw dreams as legitimate subjects for art
Who is Shukhov in One Day in the Life?
The protagonist of the novel
He is a prisoner in a Soviet labor camp
The book provides a detailed account of a single day in his life, highlighting his struggle to survive and maintain his dignity in the harsh conditions of the camp
He is shown to be a resourceful, and resilient man, who maintains his personal integrity, under very difficult circumstances
Who is Tiurin in One Day in the Life?
The foreman of Gang 104, the work gang to which Shukhov belongs
He is portrayed as a strict but fair leader
He is respected by the members of his gang
He is also a prisoner, and his imprisonment is also unjust
His history is that he was imprisoned because his father was of the Kulak class
Who is Alyosha in One Day in the Life?
He is a devoutly religious prisoner (Baptist)
He finds spiritual meaning in his imprisonment
He is known for his quiet faith and his ability to find contentment in the harsh conditions of the camp
Who is Fetiukov in One Day in the Life?
A fellow prisoner in Gang 104
He is characterized as a “scrounger” who is known for begging and trying to get extra food or cigarettes from other prisoners
He is generally seen as someone who has lost his dignity; Shukhov views Fetiukov with disdain, but also with some pity
Who is Goldstein in 1984?
The Ultimate Scapegoat: He’s the Party’s designated enemy, used to focus and manipulate public hatred and fear
Symbol of Rebellion: He represents the potential for opposition, even if his actual existence and influence are ambiguous
Source of Forbidden Knowledge: Through “The Book,” he provides a critical analysis of the Party’s power structure and methods of control
What is Thoughtcrime/Crimethink in 1984?
Thoughtcrime refers to any thought, belief, or idea that contradicts the ideology of the Party, Ingsoc (English Socialism)
It’s not just about actions; it’s about the very act of thinking independently
What is Room 101 in 1984?
Room 101 is a torture chamber where the Party subjects individuals to their worst fears
It’s designed to break down a person’s psychological resistance, forcing them to betray their deepest loyalties
Winston is tortured with rats within Room 101
What is Duckspeak in 1984?
“To duckspeak” means to utter whatever the Party line is, regardless of its truth or logic;
It represents the ideal citizen who blindly accepts and repeats Party slogans
What is Doublethink in 1984?
Doublethink is the ability to hold two contradictory beliefs simultaneously and accept both of them as true;
it involves consciously deceiving oneself while maintaining a belief in one’s own honesty
