Masland Library Blog

Is art something that has stood the test of time and which displays an immense effort on the part of the artist to display creativity and ingenuity? Or can art be a picture of a paperclip with the word “AND” written below it? Faced with these questions in Lit and Arts class today, I started to ponder how art demonstrates societal beliefs.

The Greeks and Romans were fascinated by humanity, and their statues demonstrate it. The Byzantines were focused on Christ and their churches with mosaics and paintings of Christ at the apse demonstrate this focus. What does our post-modern art say about the era in which we live?

The magazines in the library were my starting point in helping me consider what the world believes is important. I noticed a focus on politics and pop culture. Two areas where the question, “what is reality?” is raised. Pick up a book about modern art and read about Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain or Bottle Rack. What is the standard for art? Who is to say whether these anti-art objects truly are works of creativity, masterpieces in their time?

I challenge you to question the world around you and test it within this framework. What are we saying by endorsing fabricated objects with artist’s names signed to them? Where is our trust and hope? What is art?

Marcel Duchamp's Fountain Jonathan Hardesty's Walter

~Allison Beyer