Visual Art and Visual Culture

Visual Art and Visual Culture

• Visual culture encompasses tangible expressions of societies and individuals, showing values and identity
• Visual culture is dynamic and always changing with cultures and shaping shared identities
• Examination of visual culture means analyzing how images are created, interpreted, and perceived, along with their ideological, economic and social effects
• Understanding of the frameworks of visual culture helps with how visuals shape perception of knowledge, and helps interpret the visual world

Conceptual Framework

• The Conceptual Framework is made up of Artist, Artwork, World and Audience
• The conceptual framework components demonstrate cause and effect in the art world
• Each part is reliant on each other to survive in the art world
• Values and beliefs of society, new users of technology, personal discoveries of the artist and the audience's reception of artworks cause change

The 4 Agencies of the Artworld

• The artist is responsible for creating artwork, establishing intentions and representation, and attempting to connect artwork to the audience
• Artists are guided by their philosophies and beliefs in artmaking.
• Artworks reflect documented events and ideas in society
• Artists often explore different media and aesthetic conventions, reflecting and refining their artmaking.
• The artwork visually conveys an artist's ideas and intentions through technical ability and innovation
• The artwork can be seen as a bridge between the artist and the audience
• Art reflects conventions, technology, ideas and beliefs of a time and place
• The audience includes people who view and comment on the work, and also historians and critics
• The audience may include the general public, critics, sponsors, historians and curators
• The world is the context and time period of the artist, artwork and audience
• The world includes the beliefs, technical advances, historical events, ideas, fashion, conventions, politics, society and influential people from the time

The 4 Frames

• The four frames are the Subjective, Cultural, Structural, and Postmodern Frames
• Frames are tools to understand the relationships between the agents of the art world, the artist, the artwork, the audience, and the world
• Frames permit deeper focus on specific aspects of artworks and the artist's approach

The Subjective Frame

• Art is interpreted from an individual or personal perspective in the Subjective frame
• The meaning of the works stems from experiences, personal feelings, imagination, dreams and the subconscious

Subjective Frame and Conceptual Framework

• An artist is seen as an individual whose practice is guided by personal experience
• Artworks are understood as records of personal experiences, encompassing feelings, memories and imagination
• The audience interprets artworks personally and relates aspects of the artwork to their own lives
• The world is seen through a personal, individual lens

The Cultural Frame

• Social and cultural issues can be interpreted by examining race, class, ethnicity, economic standing, sexuality, gender, religion, technology and spirituality and the environment through the cultural frame
• Artists are affected by their social and cultural identities as well as experiences with particular social/cultural groups
• Artwork conveys an artist's understanding and views on social issues
• The audience possesses social identities and may belong to social groups and communities

The Structural Frame

• Works can be interpreted by seeing art through its visual language through symbols, codes and historical art practices

• The structural frame focuses on relationships between agents of the art world.

• Artists use systems of signs and symbols and are conscious of visual language to communicate meaning and represent ideas

• Artworks are constructed as symbolic objects that convey meaning through visual language including materials and techniques

• Audiences must be visually literate and aware of signs and symbols to interpret works

• Codes, conventions, symbols are crucial to understanding the world in art

The Postmodern Frame

• Traditional and mainstream ideas are challenged by humor, parody, satire, irony and appropriation of old works
• Artists use signs and symbols to convey ideas and are conscious of visual language
• Previous texts, popular culture and new ideas are explored by artworks conceived as visual texts
• Audiences have the power to challenge and question artworks by bringing skepticism and doubt to interpretations

Subjectivity In Art

• Subjectivity in art is how the understanding of works depends on the individual
• Scientific Gaze only accepts analysis, trained perception and evidence.

Artistic Production

• Artistic production is how art such as painting, sculpture, performance, music and dance is made

3 Main Areas to Influence the Art World

• Establishments and stakeholders can influence the art world, and can also undermine artists with a business oriented mindset
• The art world is a complex industry with stakeholders and unspoken rules that go beyond the artist

Curators

• Curators provide context to art collections and act as catalysts
• Curators communicate the vision of the artist and assist the understanding and engagement of the audience with art
• Choices and interpretations of Curators ignite dialogue between institution, artist and audience

Critics

• Individuals who analyze, interpret, and evaluate artworks and give commentary based on artistic techniques, cultural significance, style and historical context.
• Critics have assessments which help shape the understanding of art and can influence public opinion

Galleries

• Art is sold and displayed in galleries
• Galleries can be small or large displaying many forms of art
• Types of Gallaries*
• Public Gallery: Exhibits art and is run and owned by the government
• Private Gallery: Images and videos are for a group of people, and need a password or invitation to view

Explore visual culture's role in reflecting societal values and shaping identities. Visual culture evolves dynamically, influencing perceptions and knowledge. Analyze image creation, interpretation, and ideological impacts to understand the visual world.