In recent times, it has become common for the people who are meant to consume media, or those who genuinely partake in the fandoms of such media, to scrutinize it and break it down — technically, thematically, and generally. For example, Transformers is a show aimed at 7-14 year olds, and it also has a strong outer demographic of 18 . The fandom is highly critical of the TV shows, video games, comics etc, and it has gotten to the point where things are broken down within 10 minutes of the media being released (or the episode being aired). Transformers is just one example; other examples may be found and used. This article could analyze this phenomenon, and perhaps look into why/how it came to be — an analysis of the analysis of the arts, so to speak.
This is an awesome topic and should be explored further! Targeting an audience while writing is crucial! You must know your audience to be able to produce the content and media that they will share and enjoy. – Morgan Muller9 years ago
This is an interesting one because there are a few avenues that you can take. I am sure that there can be some adjudication of how closely it represents a character, how good the fabrication is and the use/choice of different materials. – DClarke9 years ago
Also maybe how the monetisation of cosplay is hurting the genuine artists in this genuine. – carboncopyben9 years ago
This is a great topic! It would also be interesting to examine where cosplay came from and how it has developed over time. One might also consider the diversity of cosplayers' intentions. Some might be looking to make money, some might want attention as serious artists, and others may just do it for fun. – Nicole Williams9 years ago
I have recently read online that some cosplayers are now charging people for photos at Comic Con and similar conventions. This may also be a good point to add! – Samantha Brandbergh9 years ago
I don't think cosplaying gains enough recognition for the amount of hard work and artistic talent it takes to pull off, I think exploring it as the art form it is would be a really great way to expose just how much skill the process takes. I've also actually just read an article recently about a cosplayer named Angela Bermudez who was scammed and left in another country with the false promise of having her attend a convention as a guest. Might be worth the read. – pixiemina9 years ago
Compile a list of (and analyze) photo blogs that sprung up in the wake of HONY across the world, like Portraits of America, Humans of Rome, Humans of Amsterdam, etc.
This is interesting! One might also consider the appeal of Humans of New York and why these spinoffs have sprung up so much. – Nicole Williams9 years ago
People often say of modern art, "my pre-schooler could draw that" or some variation. But I read an article in Psychology Today a couple of years back describing a study someone had done — they showed little kids art by masters and then had them recreate the image. The closest matches were shown side by side with the original and people were asked to pick the better version. Overwhelmingly, participants picked the piece done by the master artist. Turns out pre-schoolers *can't* do that.
So what are the fundamentals of modern art, and what basic terms and information does one need to appreciate or evaluate a Pollock, as opposed to kindergarten splatter? If I'm watching ballroom dancing, I know how (for a layman) to assess the way the torso and arms are held… what's the modern art equivalent to that?
It would also be interesting to see a comparison and brief synopsis of the major artists in the movement; Pollock is the only one I know.
This would be a great article! As a fellow artist I often used to look at Pollock's and get mad, telling myself I could do the same but never get paid for it. Even when I try it doesn't look quite the same, as aesthetically pleasing.. something just isn't right. I guess it's not my style but what is it in some artists that can make blocks of colour or splatters appealing? I think it's something primal in our brains that reacts to these abstract paintings and colours which only certain painters can capture right. – Slaidey9 years ago
I would like to say most successful artists have a formal background in art. They understand design placement, horizon, foreground, background and the color variations. After this education they are free to experiment and express themselves in modern art. I was just thinking about the Pollock film the other day, so that would be a good place to start. The author can get a feel for Pollock's work and a better understanding of how a good foundation and the role of mental health help to produce works of such magnatitude. – Venus Echos9 years ago
When the economy starts to fall, citizens begin holding onto their money more and spending wisely. There are certain things we can't do without in life, such as food and shelter, and these are the things we often save our money for when times are tough. One of the first things to get cut from our expenses is the arts and entertainment, something this website celebrates in full.
Do you think that the arts suffer more when the economy falls? Do you think the economy is near collapsing entirely, therefore putting the arts in severe danger? If the arts are the way we celebrate and enjoy life, are they truly unnecessary compared to all else when times are tough? How can they be the meaning behind and representation of life if we are so quick to do away with them?
The answer to the question is yes; art suffers when the economy is weak. I had to shut down my studio when we had the severe economic downturn. Many galleries in my area had to close. We even had a museum that had to close their doors. Other museums had to restructure hours and staff to stay open. We also had municipal run galleries and art programs that were turned over to private organizations that now run these programs because they can concentrate on soliciting funding. A source for someone who wants to write about this would be to get statistical data from the various state business licensing and see how many art galleries went out of business in the last few years in comparison to how many have opened up. Furthermore, another addition to the story could be the privatization of the once run government art facilities due to lack of government funding available. – Venus Echos9 years ago
Agreed a weak economy can cause art to suffer. Essentials are key, but art is an essential when thinking in development terms. Whomever decides to write on this topic might also take a look at how some schools have completely removed art and music from their curriculum and how that affects child development; or how a diminish in support for the arts could affect the future . – DeGirl9 years ago
Economy is way more complex than this. – T. Palomino12 months ago
Is it worthwhile to try and engage young people (teenagers/young adults) in drama, meaning plays as a form of entertainment and playwriting as a form of literature? In a screen-driven society, it seems that drama is represented by a single high-school musical in the lives of most young people. This article could look at the economical and artistic advantages of drama over something like filmmaking.
Good topic. It is worth stating how young people are still driven towards the stage and plays (I experience that everyday at university), especially in an era where the arts intertwine, such as when visual effects/videos are incorporated in ballets, shows or plays. It would be wrong to say young people are not interested in these anymore. Plays and musicals know that and try to change their ways and talk about subjects that touch young people in a funny way too (like book of Mormon or Fun Home). Also, be careful with comparing drama and filmmaking. They are both different and both worthy arts, no need to place one above the other! :) – Rachel Elfassy Bitoun9 years ago
Society finds it acceptable to ask an artist to give away their work, skills and talents. Many artists are asked to donate their work to events to help them raise money. They tell the artist it will help them to promote their work in exchange for monetary compensation. We do not hear an organization asking a surgeon to perform an operation for free so that it can advance his/her practice. The government also participates in discounting the artist’s talents as well. When an artist does donate a piece of work, they are only allowed to claim the cost of the materials on their taxes not the time, education and talent that goes into creating the piece. Society deems other professions such as doctors, lawyers, and CEOs as worthy. Society does not ask a CEO to donate whatever it is they have to offer for free, but they will ask a musician to play for their organization for free without any consideration; or ask a writer to create copy, or a designer to make their brochure and think that the artist should be thankful for the opportunity.
This article can help get the message out that artists have value and to stop the practice of asking artists to give away their work. Professional artists need to be respected like any other professional in our society.
Agreed. Art is a broader term than just painting though. Writing I an art too, and writers get the same rep which a lot of people here at the Artifice can relate to. I advise whoever takes this up to talk about art in the more general term as well to get the word out. – SpectreWriter9 years ago
I absolutely agree. As a musician, I am often asked to play for free. Your comment about taxes interests me, as I never even considered that a charitable performance could be claimed (and maybe it wouldn't be accepted?). I often hear photographers discussing how their work is undervalued. I think it can be tempting to offer your services for free if you want to support a certain cause or event, but we have to be mindful of how this can serve to devalue our fellow artists' work. – corrigation9 years ago
In the article, because it may come up in the comments, one might want to address why it is we write on this website for free. We obviously put time and effort into our writing so why do we volunteer to do it here without compensation? I think it's a line between other people's expectations of it's worth and ours; we aren't getting asked to do so, it's our choice to share our voice on a particular subject that would otherwise not get read by others. – Slaidey9 years ago
Nowadays, it is getting harder and harder to receive grant funding for your organization as a non-profit, but there are still many benefits one has over a for-profit business.
In the modern world, whether you are starting your own business or going to work for someone else, I believe you're still risking the same thing: you could be out of a job tomorrow.
What do you think?
Although I am an art professor at a university, I have started a small business with my daughter (supposedly a summer job), called Two Dirty Hoes Gardening and Lawn Care. (My mother does not approve of the name.) I love to design, create and maintain gardens. It began by helping out a new friend with her yard. She paid me and gave me the idea that I might like to do this during the summer. As I worked in my friend's yards, clearing out overgrown, neglected gardens to put in a low maintenance grass lawn, I ended up with day lilies, sedum, hydrangea, hosta and ornamental grasses as well as landscaping brick that I was hired to remove. She said I could throw it away or I could have it or pass it on to someone. Which is exactly what I did. I filled up my yard with the lilies and grasses, built a retaining wall in the front of my house and gave an friend the rest. She is a single mom, living on a single income, and a part-time graduate student. She lives in a house build by Habitat for Humanity. They did a nice job on the house, but the outdoor living space was never finished, and she didn't seem to have the time, money or know how to maintain it or improve it. Her little boy did not play outside because with the overgrown weeds everywhere, the bugs were everywhere and buzzing biting. Among the weeds were thistles that hurt worse than the bug bites. The sidewalks were covered with months worth of grass shavings, weeds and soil that had started to encroach on the cement. So I planted the free plants and used the leftover in her yard. I brought 13 student volunteers to the neighboring town where she lived and we worked for three hours, weeding, tilling, seeding, watering, power washing, measuring, planning, and designing. That day, with the help of my students, I was able to give her a 40 hour work week in one afternoon, free of charge. (My students got to substitute this service experience for an assignment. Bribery is the key to acquiring a strong volunteer force!) It felt really good to do this. The before and after photos are very dramatic and we haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet! So I decided to call this project "Landscapes for Love", which I now refer to as a not-for-profit organization. Here is the paragraph I have posted on my Landscapes for Love Facebook page. It explains a little bit about what we are doing.
Although I am an art professor at a university, I have started a small business with my daughter (supposedly a summer job), called Two Dirty Hoes Gardening and Lawn Care. (My mother does not approve of the name.) I love to design, create and maintain gardens. It began by helping out a new friend with her yard. She paid me and gave me the idea that I might like to do this during the summer. As I worked in my friend's yards, clearing out overgrown, neglected gardens to put in a low maintenance grass lawn, I ended up with day lilies, sedum, hydrangea, hosta and ornamental grasses as well as landscaping brick that I was hired to remove. She said I could throw it away or I could have it or pass it on to someone. Which is exactly what I did. I filled up my yard with the lilies and grasses, built a retaining wall in the front of my house and gave an friend the rest. She is a single mom, living on a single income, and a part-time graduate student. She lives in a house build by Habitat for Humanity. They did a nice job on the house, but the outdoor living space was never finished, and she didn't seem to have the time, money or know how to maintain it or improve it. Her little boy did not play outside because with the overgrown weeds everywhere, the bugs were everywhere and buzzing biting. Among the weeds were thistles that hurt worse than the bug bites. The sidewalks were covered with months worth of grass shavings, weeds and soil that had started to encroach on the cement. So I planted the free plants and used the leftover in her yard. I brought 13 student volunteers to the neighboring town where she lived and we worked for three hours, weeding, tilling, seeding, watering, power washing, measuring, planning, and designing. That day, with the help of my students, I was able to give her a 40 hour work week in one afternoon, free of charge. (My students got to substitute this service experience for an assignment. Bribery is the key to acquiring a strong volunteer force!) It felt really good to do this. The before and after photos are very dramatic and we haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet! So I decided to call this project "Landscapes for Love", which I now refer to as a not-for-profit organization. I'm actually enjoying the non-paid work more. I can see how the business and the NPO will feed into and support each other. I am still trying to figure out how to balance everything. I would be interested in reading about someone else's experience with setting up a non-profit organization. – Drbarro9 years ago
