Social Issues & Ethical Questions

1. Social Issues & Ethical Questions

2. overview • Social critique • Artists have & continue to highlight problematic issues in society. Raise public awareness – can lead to change for the better • Focused on conveying a message • Some artists experiment with the ethical limits of art in order to get attention & shock the general observer

3. characteristics • Tries to make the viewer evoke emotion Possibly shock the viewer • Addresses an important issue • Symbolism is used within the work • Can have one interpretation or open-ended/ambiguous

4. 58) The aboriginal memorial

5. 58) The aboriginal memorial (1988) Natural pigments on 200 logs • By: Paddy Dhatangu • Created to correspond with the 200th anniversary of the European Settlement in Australia • Marked past tragedies & current inequality for the aboriginals of Australia • Consists of 200 traditional coffins (hollowed logs – dupun) each decorated with unique designs & images http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-LSea6zAqo

6. 59) Nickel Tailings #30 Sudbury, Ontario

7. 59) Nickel Tailings #30 Sudbury, Ontario. (1996) Photograph • By: Edward Burtynsky - Contemporary Canadian Photographer • Main theme: nature transformed through industry • Open-ended interpretation • Subjects are often torn between beauty & repulsion/attraction & fear • Explores dilemma of consuming materials to improve our lives, but harming the earth & our own health in the process http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7oDeUyYj0Y

10. 60) Mother and Child Divided

11. 60) Mother and Child Divided (1993) Steel, GRP composites, glass, silicone sealants, cow, calf, formaldehyde solution • By: Damien Hirst– Contemporary British Artist • Believes art is in the mind – has assistants to create his work • Plays with the concept of what is art – aims to shock the viewer • Attempts to create attraction & repulsion towards his subject • Tries to create metaphors to religious themes • Often accused of plagiarism by other artists http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh42L1dtGE4

12. 61) The Dinner Party

13. 61) The Dinner Party (1979)Ceramic and handwoven cloth • By: Judy Chicago • Massive ceremonial banquet on a triangular table with 39 place settings – each commemorating an important woman from history • Includes embroidered runners, gold chalices/utensils & painted porcelain plates with raised motifs (butterfly & genitalia forms) that reflect on each specific woman • 999 names of other women inscribed on tile floor

14. Women featured from primordial times to Georgia O’Keefe (20th Century) • Meant to highlight the fact that women are often overlooked in written history

15. 62) We don’t need another hero

16. 62) We Don’t Need Another Hero (1987) Photographic silkscreen / vinyl • By: Barbara Kruger • Comes from 2 pop culture concepts: Norman Rockwell’s image of “Dick & Jane” and Tina Turner’s lyrics from the Mad Max movie set in a post-nuclear war future • Works are somewhat ambiguous & allows for more than one interpretation • Questions concept of heroism & the role of boys vs. girls in society

17. Uses advertising techniques to attract people’s attention & make them aware of issues • From mid 1970’s+, belonged to Artists Meeting for Social Change – wanted to create art with more intellectual challenge & political content http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wTb7pOSPG4