Destroying Art

Throughout this semester, we apply what we have learned in Living with Art to discussions of controversies surrounding art. Our purpose is to have conversations that build teamwork, communication, social responsibility, and critical thinking skills.

Note: This topic can stir very strong emotions. Please keep your postings professional and focused on the required information, not on personal attacks or sweeping condemnations of other people or cultures. Listen to each other and be thoughtful. Avoid inappropriate language and treat the diverse perspectives of all members of your group with respect.

When is it OK to destroy art?

While we think of art as something to preserve, art has routinely been destroyed intentionally for a variety of reasons.

• In Chapter 3, we read about the destruction of the Bamyian Buddhas by the Taliban.
  • The destruction is described here(Links to an external site.).
• More recently, there have been popular movements around the world to remove monuments to slavers and military figures who fought to preserve slavery.
  • This video(Links to an external site.) from Brown University does an excellent job of summarizing the two sides of the monument debate, which has yet to be resolved.
• Contemporary artists sometimes destroy or deface art. Here are some examples:
• • Contemporary Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei destroyed a work of ancient art, as described here(Links to an external site.).
  • Jake and Dinos Chapman purchase prints by the famous Spanish artist Francisco de Goya and drew on them, as described here(Links to an external site.).
  • And most recently, Banksy shredded one of his own images, as described here(Links to an external site.).

So, when is it ok to destroy, deface, or remove a work of art?

To understand this issue and how art relates to social responsibility, let’s use the jigsawing technique. Choose one of these “pieces” or aspects of the issue and make your posting (each piece is a different court case). Remember that once someone has chosen a piece, you cannot use it. This means you have to read your groupmates’ postings to figure out which pieces are still available.

Choose ONE of the prompts below and begin your answer by explaining which one you have chosen.

• Explain the perspective on the destruction of another of the people who destroyed or advocated removal listed above and compare this to your own perspective.
• Explain the perspective of someone who objected to the destruction or removal listed above and compare this to your own perspective.
• Explain the perspective of someone else who objected to the destruction or removal listed above and compare this to your own perspective.
• Compare two destructive/removal acts from the list above, explaining why one is acceptable and the other is unacceptable.
• Compare two other destructive/removal acts from the list above, explaining why one is acceptable and the other is unacceptable.
• Explain how learning about the issue of removing or destroying art affected your personal attitudes, behaviors or beliefs.

Instructions

Once you have read the prompt, consulted the resources, and read your groupmates’ postings, click Reply. Your discussion posting must:

1. be at least 100 words. (Insert hard returns to separate ideas).
2. use of the relevant terms, concepts, and information from the videos, module, and additional resources.
3. use professional, written English language, including correct punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.

Some relevant terms & concepts to use in this short-answer essay:

M5 Terms and Concepts

• there are several media of three-dimensional art
• artists select individual three-dimensional media for their visual characteristics
• materials and techniques of three-dimensional media
• modeling/assembling/assemblage
• carving/subtractive process
• found objects
• earthwork
• Minimalism
• each medium of three-dimensional art has unique visual characteristics
• uses of three-dimensional media
• sculpture in the round
• relief sculpture/low relief/high relief
• additive process
• casting/mold/lost-wax process
• contrapposto
• installation
• public art
• there are different media of crafts
• each craft medium has distinct visual and functional characteristics of craft media
• materials and techniques of craft media
• fine art versus craft/decorative arts/minor arts
• plastic
• glass/stained glass/glass blowing
• fiber arts/textiles/basketry/weaving
• artists choose individual craft media for their visual and functional characteristics
• uses of craft media, especially in relation to functional objects
• stylization/stylized art
• ceramics/slip/coil/slab
• glaze
• metal arts/forging
• Arts and Crafts Movement