Thursday entry (for 11/5/09): Elitism

Quote on topic by an expert:

"Elitism in the art world is the insistence that art is somehow out of the realm of common experience, that its pleasures are not available to everyone. It has become increasingly necessary to read texts (artists’ statements, wall labels or plaques, articles of art criticism, etc.) in order to understand certain works of art, but this is what great contemporary art does: It advances through ideas, by engaging our minds. Art galleries, because their offerings are commodities, are invariably commercial enterprises, but they are among the only places where the public can see art free of charge. Museums serve comparable roles as a community's storehouse of art, exhibiting works to their vistors, educating visitors to the works’ significance, garnering support in ways unlike the galleries'. Wherever encounters with art occur, they always demand the viewer's attention and receptivity. Failure to embrace those opportunities are at least, simply that: losses of opportunities,significant as those can be." --Michael Delahunt

Annotated bibliography:

Sen, Kunal. "Art and Elitism: A Form of Pattern Recognition." 2007.

In this article, Sen describes a form of pattern recognition that we all must employ in order to differentiate between lowbrow and highbrow art.

"As we come across paintings, sculptures, stories, poems, music, cinema, we are told where they stand in terms of quality. When we hear of a novel, we are told if it is a 'classic.' When we go to a museum, we are told that these are examples of some of the best of the breed. Even before we can decide whether we like Mozart or not, we are informed that he is one of the best we have ever produced. It is impossible for us not to use our pattern-recognition machine in these situations as well – we are programmed to do so – our survival depends on successful and efficient pattern recognition."

How this topic relates to my work:

The topic of elitism plays a role in the background of my concept. Highbrow art is linked to elitism and kitsch is viewed negatively in the eyes of the art world's elite.