3.2 Art as a Challenger of Perspective
3 min read•january 17, 2023
How does art both challenge and reflect cultural perspectives?
En quoi les arts à la fois défient-ils et reflètent-ils les perspectives culturelles?
Street art, Morocco Image from scenearabia.com
Art influences society by challenging opinions, translating experiences across space and time, but also promoting shared values. At a time when youth culture controls the world, these public art exhibits invite the observer to consider the importance of these two old men.
Hommage à Leonard Cohen - Street art in Montréal Québec Image from tripadvisor.com
Art encourages us to value our creativity and to search constantly for new ideas. Artists 🎨 often aim to break rules and find unorthodox ways of approaching contemporary issues. In fact, the impressionist movement (19th century France) emerged from artists who did just this:
"Radicaux à leur époque, les premiers impressionnistes ont violé les règles de la peinture académique...Ils ont également peint des scènes réalistes de la vie moderne, et souvent peint à l’extérieur, englobant ce que ses adhérents soutenaient était une manière de voir différente" (hisour.com)
Monet Impressionisme: (Image from wikipedia.org)
What was once outrageous 😲 to both Parisian society and the art world is now appreciated by art aficionados all over the world 🌍 Paintings of everyday people and objects may seem normal or even boring to us today, but in the 1850s, art was for the privileged few. Impressionist artists like Monet, , , , and portrayed the lives of the working and growing middle-class and made appreciation of art accessible to all. By defying established standards of the art world, these artists created new standards for beauty and an appreciation of everyday life through art.
Renoir, Déjeuner des canotiers (1881) (Image from wikipedia.org)
The impressionists weren't the only group to challenge ideals of beauty. In fact, every major art movement questions the aesthetic of the preceding movements. This is true of all forms of art. One could say that the role of art is, precisely, to both reflect and challenge cultural norms.
Strive for Five Vocabulary
| mot / expression | explication en anglais |
| les canons de beauté / les critères de beauté | standards of beauty |
| les beaux-arts / les arts visuels / les arts plastiques | fine arts / visual arts / (painting/sculpture) |
| une perspective / un point de vue | a perspective / point of vue |
| défier / contester / provoquer / s’opposer à quelque chose | to defy / contest or dispute / provoke / be opposed to something |
| inclure / soutenir / subventionner | to include / support / fund or subsidize |
| un critique / une critique | a critic / the review of a critic |
| une exposition (d’art) / un spectateur | an (art) exhibit / a spectator |
| émouvant /inspirant / décevant / divertissant | (emotionally) moving / inspiring / disappointing / entertaining |
| créer / bâtir / construire / peindre / dessiner / sculpter / composer / représenter / incarner / incorporer | to create/ build / construct / paint/ draw / sculpt / compose / represent / embody / incorporate |
Key Terms to Review (7)
Degas
: Degas was a French artist associated with Impressionism but also known for his exploration of other mediums such as sculpture and photography. He is famous for his depictions of ballet dancers.Déjeuner des canotiers
: "Déjeuner des canotiers" (or "Luncheon of the Boating Party") is a famous painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It portrays a group of friends enjoying a leisurely lunch at a riverside restaurant. The painting showcases Renoir's skill in capturing human interactions, light, and atmosphere.Impressionniste
: An impressionniste is an artist who belongs to the art movement known as Impressionism. Impressionnistes are known for their emphasis on capturing the fleeting effects of light and color in their artwork.Manet
: Manet was a French painter who played a crucial role in the transition from Realism to Impressionism. His works often depicted modern life and challenged traditional artistic conventions.Morisot
: Berthe Morisot was a French painter and one of the leading figures of the Impressionist movement. She is known for her delicate brushwork, use of light and color, and her depictions of domestic scenes and portraits.Renoir
: Renoir was a French painter known for his vibrant use of color and his focus on depicting beauty in everyday life. He was one of the leading figures of Impressionism.Soleil levant
: "Soleil levant" (or "Impression Sunrise") is an iconic painting by Claude Monet. It depicts the port of Le Havre at sunrise with loose brushstrokes and vibrant colors. This painting is considered one of the first examples of Impressionism.3.2 Art as a Challenger of Perspective
3 min read•january 17, 2023
How does art both challenge and reflect cultural perspectives?
En quoi les arts à la fois défient-ils et reflètent-ils les perspectives culturelles?
Street art, Morocco Image from scenearabia.com
Art influences society by challenging opinions, translating experiences across space and time, but also promoting shared values. At a time when youth culture controls the world, these public art exhibits invite the observer to consider the importance of these two old men.
Hommage à Leonard Cohen - Street art in Montréal Québec Image from tripadvisor.com
Art encourages us to value our creativity and to search constantly for new ideas. Artists 🎨 often aim to break rules and find unorthodox ways of approaching contemporary issues. In fact, the impressionist movement (19th century France) emerged from artists who did just this:
"Radicaux à leur époque, les premiers impressionnistes ont violé les règles de la peinture académique...Ils ont également peint des scènes réalistes de la vie moderne, et souvent peint à l’extérieur, englobant ce que ses adhérents soutenaient était une manière de voir différente" (hisour.com)
Monet Impressionisme: (Image from wikipedia.org)
What was once outrageous 😲 to both Parisian society and the art world is now appreciated by art aficionados all over the world 🌍 Paintings of everyday people and objects may seem normal or even boring to us today, but in the 1850s, art was for the privileged few. Impressionist artists like Monet, , , , and portrayed the lives of the working and growing middle-class and made appreciation of art accessible to all. By defying established standards of the art world, these artists created new standards for beauty and an appreciation of everyday life through art.
Renoir, Déjeuner des canotiers (1881) (Image from wikipedia.org)
The impressionists weren't the only group to challenge ideals of beauty. In fact, every major art movement questions the aesthetic of the preceding movements. This is true of all forms of art. One could say that the role of art is, precisely, to both reflect and challenge cultural norms.
Strive for Five Vocabulary
| mot / expression | explication en anglais |
| les canons de beauté / les critères de beauté | standards of beauty |
| les beaux-arts / les arts visuels / les arts plastiques | fine arts / visual arts / (painting/sculpture) |
| une perspective / un point de vue | a perspective / point of vue |
| défier / contester / provoquer / s’opposer à quelque chose | to defy / contest or dispute / provoke / be opposed to something |
| inclure / soutenir / subventionner | to include / support / fund or subsidize |
| un critique / une critique | a critic / the review of a critic |
| une exposition (d’art) / un spectateur | an (art) exhibit / a spectator |
| émouvant /inspirant / décevant / divertissant | (emotionally) moving / inspiring / disappointing / entertaining |
| créer / bâtir / construire / peindre / dessiner / sculpter / composer / représenter / incarner / incorporer | to create/ build / construct / paint/ draw / sculpt / compose / represent / embody / incorporate |
Key Terms to Review (7)
Degas
: Degas was a French artist associated with Impressionism but also known for his exploration of other mediums such as sculpture and photography. He is famous for his depictions of ballet dancers.Déjeuner des canotiers
: "Déjeuner des canotiers" (or "Luncheon of the Boating Party") is a famous painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It portrays a group of friends enjoying a leisurely lunch at a riverside restaurant. The painting showcases Renoir's skill in capturing human interactions, light, and atmosphere.Impressionniste
: An impressionniste is an artist who belongs to the art movement known as Impressionism. Impressionnistes are known for their emphasis on capturing the fleeting effects of light and color in their artwork.Manet
: Manet was a French painter who played a crucial role in the transition from Realism to Impressionism. His works often depicted modern life and challenged traditional artistic conventions.Morisot
: Berthe Morisot was a French painter and one of the leading figures of the Impressionist movement. She is known for her delicate brushwork, use of light and color, and her depictions of domestic scenes and portraits.Renoir
: Renoir was a French painter known for his vibrant use of color and his focus on depicting beauty in everyday life. He was one of the leading figures of Impressionism.Soleil levant
: "Soleil levant" (or "Impression Sunrise") is an iconic painting by Claude Monet. It depicts the port of Le Havre at sunrise with loose brushstrokes and vibrant colors. This painting is considered one of the first examples of Impressionism.
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