Critical Study- of art and design
Visual Communication in Culture
The theory of communication begins with literature. We discuss signs and symbols and semiotics.
Semiotics Definition: The study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation.
Critical Study involves a personal response, reveals knowledge to be gained and understood by looking carefully and analyzing an artwork. It includes describing, interpreting and judging.
Historical Study defines, compares and explains the artworks meaning or function within the social, cultural, political and historical time in which it was created. It involves what others have said about the artwork. Information is given about the artist and their artistic style and includes statements by the artists manifests and catalogues.
Contra posto
Sculpture you can view from all sides
Materiality- The material of the sculpture.
Critical theory- figure out how it makes you feel, the feel of it, the movement
The Framework and Analysis
1. The Subjective Frame- the immediate response based on your senses
a) Critical: How has it been organized and why.
b) Historical: What do others say.
2. The Structural Frame- Codes, symbols, signs, elements of line, shape, texture, organization and relationships, composition, scale and materials.
a) Critical: How has it been organized and what was used and why
b) Historical: What do others say
3. The Cultural Frame: Cultural identity, race, class, gender, place, art movements and styles. Influences of scientific and artistic practice, influence of politics and economics, symbols relating to culture.
a) Critical: What does it show you about the culture or society
b) Historical: What do other say about the techniques and use of signs and symbols.
4. The Post Modern Frame: Use of words or images from the past for a new purpose or in a new way; mass media, popular culture, new non-traditional media and methods, diversity.
a) Critical: Have past artworks been used in a new way? Is it a new form of art?
b) Historical: What do others say about these and the meaning.
