Afrofuturism: The Dandy Lion Afrofuturism is “speculative fiction that treats African American themes and addresses African-American concerns in context of twentieth century techno-culture, and more generally, African- American signification that appropriation images of technology and prosthetically enhance future (Denry, 2).” Afrofuturism is a term I struggle with. I don’t think I am able to define it without having troubles. In doing research I found that Afrofuturism is defined in a number of different ways and that is why I am still fuzzy on the concept. However, I find that the concept of Afrofuturism is limitless. Mark Denry, writer of Black to the Future stated, “If there is an Afrofuturism, it must be sought in unlikely places, constellated from far-flung points (Denry, 3).” I take this to mean that this idea of Afrofuturism is fluid. With that being said I think that Afrofuturism is fluid in a good way in that it leaves room for new ideas related to the concept. In the gallery walk I took several images of piece of work. I took a picture of the Dandy Lion poster that was now a part of the new exhibition. I didn’t know my connection to this project, nor did I know it’s connection to Afrofuturism, Modernism and Post …show more content…
I think that this relates back to the Dandy Lion series in that people are hook on stereotypes about how people are, and how they dress that we can sometimes look pass the idea that this may be a person’s true self and true expression of their self. I also noticed that in this issues he is giving information about himself that also further allow a viewer to think of him in a different light. As far as composition I could see this being in the Dandy Lion series, it would fit well as he has direct eye contact with the viewer, his dress and the playfulness poise and masculine quality to
After reviewing Jacob Lawrence’s direct and dramatic paintings, it was clear that his painting helped him express himself. The painting was and still is a product of the economic and cultural self-determination that African-American dealt in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, during the migration and still evident in society today. The visual qualities in Jacob Lawrence artwork that is appealing are the vibrant colors and his clever way of self-expressing the time he was so familiar. In final analysis, his artwork expressed how he felt about his environment and what his perspective were during that time. And, how restrained his painting were, for instance, Street Scene – Restaurant, even though African- Americans had access to restaurants in the neighboring area but, he still place patriot outside the restaurant waiti...
Since the decade of 1920, America has been the setting for a progressive "Black Arts Movement." This African-American cultural movement has taken shape in various genres, gaining mass appeal, through multiple capitalistic markets. Even with the use of capitalism this cultural arts movement has stayed set upon its original purpose and direction, by aiding in cultural identity awareness. The knowledge of the duel-self through community awareness as it pertains to economic perceptions and other social boundaries or the metaphysical-self; what W.E.B. Du Bois coined as "twoness," or a division of one’s own identity as a African-American. (Reuben 2) A realization of the existence of two beings within one’s mental identity, where time alters attitude and identity through environmental influence of passing events. The discovery of the "New Negro" in the Harlem Renaissance marks the beginning of this essential philosophy contributing to the 1960’s Black Arts Movement and the Civil Rights Movement; continuing to be evident in current forms of black art, such as within the lyrics of hip-hop music. These revolutionary Ideals of reform have been voiced in the lyrics of many rappers of urban realism, like the New York M.C.’s Rakim, Run-D.M.C. and west coast rapper Tupac Shakur. Though this form of expression is opposed by most academic elitists and fundamental conservatives due to their vulgar expressions of sex and violence depicted within the genre of Hip-Hop; it in opposition actually presents an internal cultural conflict revealed through the redefinition of one’s own identity with poetic lyrical expressions of realism.
DeWitte, Debra J. et al. Gateways To Art. New York City, NY: Thames & Hudson, 2012. Print.
The two artworks, Club Chair (‘Wassily’ Chair) and Un Chien Andalou showcase the identifying ideas and techniques associated with their movement, and defy the conventional mode of thought. Un Chien Andalou demonstrates the shift from living within the realm of reality to giving the imagination and sub conscious a chance to reveal the true realities. Wassily Chair rejected the excessive nature of products and created a new sophisticated style that allowed artists to become part of the community.
Though people can look into color and composition, others can still even look into the source of the art itself. Cole goes deeper, delving into the source of the art, looking in particular into the idea of cultural appropriation and the view a person can give others. Though it is good for people to be exposed to different opinions of a group or an object, sometimes people can find it difficult to tell the difference between the reality and the art itself. Sometimes art can be so powerful that its message stays and impacts its audience to the point where the viewer’s image of the subject of the art changes entirely. Cole brings up an important question about art, however. Art has become some kind of media for spreading awareness and even wisdom at times, but in reality, “there is also the question of what the photograph is for, what role it plays within the economic circulation of images” (973). Cole might even be implying that Nussbaum’s advertisement can sometimes be the point of some media, and that sometimes the different genres of art can just be to make someone with a particular interest happy. One more point that Cole makes is that “[a]rt is always difficult, but it is especially difficult when it comes to telling other people’s stories.” (974) Truthfully, awareness and other like-concepts are difficult to keep going when a person or a group is not directly involved.
Rowe visits North’s assertion that the role of the mask, as applied to visual art, is “convention embodied, the sign of signs,” which exposes the structure of art b...
Brown, Ernest Douglas. "Africanisms in American Culture." JSTOR. University of Illinois Press, n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2014.
Jones, Jonathan. “Yoko Ono show at Guggenheim Shines Light on Pioneering Conceptual Artist”. The Guardian. 13 Mar. 2014. Web. 1 May. 2014.
A common aspect of African culture is our mediating of deities, ancestors, and spirits, by performing rituals and contacting ancestors or historical ideals. This spiritual combination creates a non-Western idea of movement in art. I enjoy this part of our culture, where we create a less static environment. We become other beings, through our usage of art, dance, and costume with mask and headwear. Our artistic creators are forgotten. Our original artwork are eventually forgotten. The work goes back to the Earth, for the only true matter is how the spirits are manifested in the objects at the current time; eventually even this wears out. At the time of the spiritual manifestation in the objects, they are some of the most powerful aspects in our society.
Growing up is unavoidable. No matter how much one tries to hold on to it its inevitable in one way or another we all grow up and mature. The elements used to support this idea are many different ones. The theme for "The Secret Lion” is loss of innocence or childhood; basically the main idea is growing up. This is the case with Alberto Alvaro Rios’s “The Secret Lion.” The whole story revolves around the twelve year old narrator whose name is unknown. But what we do know is that the character is going through changes that he doesn’t quite understand and it takes some time to assimilate.
The Black Arts movement refers to a period of “furious flowering” of African American creativity beginning in the mid-1960’s and continuing through much of the 1970’s (Perceptions of Black). Linked both chronologically and ideologically with the Black Power Movement, The BAM recognized the idea of two cultural Americas: one black and one white. The BAM pressed for the creation of a distinctive Black Aesthetic in which black artists created for black audiences. The movement saw artistic production as the key to revising Black American’s perceptions of themselves, thus the Black Aesthetic was believed to be an integral component of the economic, political, and cultural empowerment of the Black community. The concepts of Black Power, Nationalism, Community, and Performance all influenced the formation of this national movement, and it proliferated through community institutions, theatrical performance, literature, and music.
This marked the beginning of his inspiration to form a personal, expressive, and religious stance on his art values and style. He has found his process and content that will be apparent in his future work.
In Confronting Images, Didi-Huberman considers disadvantages he sees in the academic approach of art history, and offers an alternative method for engaging art. His approach concentrates on that which is ‘visual’ long before coming to conclusive knowledge. Drawing support from the field of psycho analytics (Lacan, Freud, and Kant and Panofsky), Didi-Huberman argues that viewers connect with art through what he might describe as an instance of receptivity, as opposed to a linear, step-by-step analytical process. He underscores the perceptive mode of engaging the imagery of a painting or other work of art, which he argues comes before any rational ‘knowing’, thinking, or discerning. In other words, Didi-Huberman believes one’s mind ‘sees’ well before realizing and processing the object being looked at, let alone before understanding it. Well before the observer can gain any useful insights by scrutinizing and decoding what she sees, she is absorbed by the work of art in an irrational and unpredictable way. What Didi-Huberman is s...
The exhibition is not too large as it only contains around eighty artworks. These works all have African Americans as the main subject since Marshall believes that African Americans deserve more attention in art because they are almost “invisible” in a way. Mastry is arranged chronologically, starting with Marshall’s earlier works and then leading to galleries with themes such as beauty or the civil-rights struggle. Mastry should be visited because it allows a person to learn about African American art which is underrepresented and underappreciated. The general idea or thesis of this exhibition is that African Americans have been looked down on throughout history and viewed as subhumans, or even invisible. Marshall’s exhibition is about appreciating African Americans and viewing them as what they are: humans.
While attending Hailsham the students try vigorously to strive for their best art in order to have their artwork selected for “the gallery,” which is a wide-ranging collection of their best works that is shown to the outside world. In response this changes the students view of their o...