History of Image Lecture

This further elaborated my knowledge of the power of visual communication.
Starting with the simplest of examples, carvings of French Caves described as symbols of power, higher gods, mystically and another important point, carvings/dabs of ones own mind in solitarity.

This is an interesting point and separates reasoning of why we have visual communication and what its for: for personal, self expressive reasons displaying emotions, thoughts, like a visual scream for attention on something to wonder about. Examples such as protest art, unidentifiable displays of the mind projected on paper, mysticality, to show the world something we think is important or beautiful, like the Mona Lisa may have been for.

The other side of art we often forget is that artists are paid to recreate an image changing its context completely, or for commercial uses. An interesting point was on how Banksys are street art/grafitti often mixing famous imagery with new to create a contemporary, political/social message such as the Mona Lisa with a gun. These are now literally being cut out the wall and being put back in to the galleries for the typically western, middle class white people to be in awe at.

Propoganda paintings fascinate me too such as the Russian soviet union examples, showing images can rewrite history in the way the artist has been commissioned to do and it often sticks, such as the typically 'British' ideal image.

One part that really took me a back was the Benetton ads; a clothing company using such raw socially impactful, controversial images. I hope their intention was to highlight these issues proudly using their company name, not to sell their clothing.

I really also enjoyed the ideas of the more strange works of art being the artist letting out parts of their subconscious out in a very primal way, which it all stems from in history. Extremely interesting things to consider and think about, and its good to know the arts intention before it becoming a favourite/something to use to backup work etc.