Contemporary Art made for Humor

This is deviating a little bit from where I was at the other day, and I will be making myself revisit where I was, but I just couldn’t keep myself away from this either. I was wondering about modern art, and the art around us in the world today, and I thought that a lot of the art I see and like is humorous. I love to read comic strips, and who hasn’t seen one of those darn lolcats? I got to thinking about it, and I realized it related to my project very well because funny art definitely causes a physical reaction in art. It probably causes the most common physical reaction in art, or at least the most commonly recognized. It causes laughter! Stifled laughter, full-out laughter, chuckles, wide grins, blushing, choking, wide eyes, and probably other things are all reactions I have seen to funny artwork.

While I was looking through some “funny art” I stumbled across this image, which I cannot help but post.

This image made me laugh, of course, because I deleted my own Facebook for fear that I was too addicted. I have said that I went “cold turkey”. I also realized though that sometimes “funny art” is more like “propaganda”, and often it is negative. Why do we laugh at negative things so much? Is it really that funny when somebody is dissing someone or something else? How much art out there is art created for the sole purpose of ridiculing someone else publicly? Or an entire group publicly? I am sure we could find plenty of it, but it got me to thinking that maybe more of our personal biases come from the art we view growing up than we think. Many people like to ask the question “Do our personal biases effect how we view art?”

I believe that is a valid question. Another question I’d like to bring to the table is “Does the art we view effect our personal biases?” I’d certainly like to think so! But I guess I still have more learning to do, and more research.

Do you have any opinions or comments? I’d love the insight you have to give!

Contemplating Art

What does it really mean to contemplate something? I like words, and I know through reading from context that “contemplating” is a form of thinking/looking. I want to really do it justice though, so for the sake of my researching I am looking up the definition. This is what I have discovered according to dictionary.com:

–verb (used with object)

1. to look at or view with continued attention; observe or study thoughtfully: to contemplate the stars.

2. to consider thoroughly; think fully or deeply about: to contemplate a difficult problem.

3. to have as a purpose; intend.

4. to have in view as a future event: to contemplate buying a new car.

–verb (used without object)

5. to think studiously; meditate; consider deliberately.

With this knowledge how am I supposed to contemplate art? How does contemplating art connect to reacting physically to a piece of art? As a viewer I think that the first two definitions are most important, but as an artist I could use all of these definitions. Right now, as a student of Art History, I am going to focus more on the first two (as a viewer).

If I were to contemplate The Letter by Vermeer (1666 Oil on canvas) I would probably begin with the overall theme, or even the subject matter closest to me. At first I would be drawn to the two women, but in an effort I would contemplate the image piece by piece. I would see the papers in the front right hand corner and I would wonder if the woman played by ear, as if to somehow explain the tossed look of the papers and why they are not beside or in front of her. I would think that she used the sheet music as a learning tool, but probably quickly memorized the music since it does look used but she isn’t using it. I would see the curtain and I would think she was playing in solitude, or at least looking for peace while she played, before she was interrupted by what I would guess was “the help”.

I would notice the basket and wonder if the maid was doing laundry when she received the letter to pass on to the woman and just carried it wither her, placing it on the ground to talk to the more regal woman. I would wonder about the letter, and what it said. I am unsure of the content because the maid looks almost pleased, whereas the woman receiving the letter looks unsure or shocked in a less-than-pleased way. It could be a love letter, or a letter from a loved one saying it’s over. Something else I would notice is how casually they are both carrying themselves. Could it be possible that even though there is probably a contrast in status these two women are friends? Or perhaps the reason the maid looks so pleased is because she has something to rub into this other woman’s face, and the other woman is normally very ignorant. By seeing the shoes on the floor at the entryway to the door and the broom I would guess that this room was possibly cleaned not long before the well-dressed woman entered to play in it. She was either asked to remove her shoes, or did it by choice. Possibly. I would imagine that I would do a lot of interpreting while I contemplate, as you have seen, because I can’t seem to keep my mind from interpreting things around me.

After some time I would be left feeling like I am inside the painting, with a physical warmth in my body if it is a welcoming scene or a colder feeling if it is less welcoming. The more I would contemplate meanings, techniques, actions, and color in the paintings or other pieces of art the more I would feel it’s presence around me. Some works of art just seem to reach out and touch me, demanding their attention. This is a much more subtle way that I “feel” the art on me. It is almost like feeling with my eyes, as if I were to run barefoot across grass, knowing it is there, and feeling it’s life more with each step.

That “Wow!” Moment: Embarking On A Journey

I believe that everyone who has seen art, and really looked at it, has had at least one “Wow!” moment. If I am wrong and you find yourself reading this saying “She’s wrong, because I haven’t,” please let me know. After you let me know that you haven’t had this “Wow!” moment I will be happy to share information on where you can find breathtaking and touching works of art.

I want to explore art on a deeper level and figure out why we find ourselves having physical reactions to certain pieces of art. This all stems from my question, “What causes art to touch us?” Why does one person look at a painting and feel goosebumps raising on their arms when another person just walks on by it without feeling a thing? How does art seem to grab us, pull us in, and leave our skin tingling without even coming into contact with us? What sort of power does art hold over us as individuals, and also as groups? What sort of power does that give us, if we learn how to use it?

Where does the magic happen? Does it happen in the artist’s mind? Does it happen as early as the sketching or planning stages? Is it possible that the artist reaches out to us in such a way while creating the art that it gives the art itself a sense of longing to “touch” people? Is it the amount of work, detail, and technique that gives us a sense of reality causing us to feel “touched”? What about emotional pieces or abstract pieces? What about pieces that lack technique but have a very strong meaning or are very honest? Do those pieces “touch” us? What does it mean to be “touched” by art anyway? Can you be negatively “touched” by a piece of art?

Does the sensation happen in our mind? Do we see it and decide for ourselves what it is, and how it makes us feel, faster than we could try comprehending the original purpose? Do we let our own biases get in the way of the true meaning of the art? Is it somehow a magic combination of all the above questions that causes the art to give us goosebumps, chills, or wide eyes? If we could ask the artist ourselves why they created the painting, would we like it less or more if we knew the answer? I have a lot to learn, and a ready mind and heart. This is not going to be something with easy answers, and there likely will not be one solid answer. I will probably come up with many “answers,” or rather “ideas/opinions” as I would prefer to call them.

I am going to be uncovering theories and themes surrounding these thoughts and questions through various forms of study. I will be asking these questions, and I will be discussing these questions. I will reflect on these questions and create things based on certain themes. I will probably come up with more questions! I will compare what I am learning about incredible pieces of art between Baroque and Modern Times to these ideas and curiosities. I will also be likely to compare commissioned works with non-commissioned works. If I can get my hands on some people willing to be interviewed for a video I would love to “document” some interviews in a “film”! Hopefully I can work something like that out, because it would be neat to have a “documentary” sort of thing about these ideas that I worked on.

It would make me very happy if you would actively join me in my learning! Please comment, share your own ideas and opinions (even if especially if they are different from my own, I love a good “eye opener”), and allow yourself to absorb the art that is around you.

I included several images of a concept sketch I was working on several months ago because I wanted to get your opinions about one of my questions. Do you think it is possible that the art begins to develop the way it is going to touch people even in it’s beginning stages? Does it grow as it begins to take shape? Even if it is not my own sketch, but other early stages of art (including your own), do you ever feel something from an “unfinished” piece of art? Sometimes I just “feel” where it’s going, because something touches me deeply in a way that is difficult for me to explain.

Thank you so much for reading & wish me luck on my journey,
Heather