Late age of print
- Term comes from theorist Marshall Meluhon
- Age of print 1450, Guttenburg's printing press
- Allowed written word to be distributed
Electronic book (e- book)
Internet has changed the way that we read- hypertext/hyper media
This fragments the knowledge due to the way that we skip information as we get distracted by sub-links
Definition of Mass Media
Modern systems of communication and distribution supplied by relatively small groups of cultural producers, but directed towards large numbers of consumers. Some examples include:
- Television
- Cinema
- Advertising
- Publicity
- Newspapers
Criticism of Mass Media
- Superficial and trivial
- Viewing figures measure success
- Audience dispersed and disempowered
- Encourages the status quo
- Power held by the few that are motivated for profit or social control
Positive Criticism
- Not all mass media is low quality
- Social problems and injustices are discussed by media
- Creativity can be a feature in mass media
- Democratic potential
John A. Walker wrote a book entitled 'Art in the age of Mass Media' exploring Art and the Media.
Can art be autonomous? (exist in its own vacuum)
Artists use of Mass media
Leeds 13- The group faked spending there grant money from the university for going on to Spain. They told the Sun newspaper and an article was published, they even faked photos of there holiday at there home in Leeds.
Jackson Pollock-
- No meaning in the world
- Elitist- art that is above society
Thomas Crow- Modern Art in the Common Culture
- Pop artists come after abstract expressionists
- Attack on elitism
Andy Warhol-
'I consume therefore I am'
His work symbolises a consumerism society by the use of repetition
Marilyn (1962)-
The image of Marilyn is taken from a publicity shoot, were it depicts her smiling when in reality she has serious drug problems and is far from happy.
"Warhol found in Monroe a fusion of two of his consistent themes: death and the cult of celebrity. By repeating the image, he evokes her ubiquitous presence in the media. The contrast of vivid colour with black and white, and the effect of fading in the right panel are suggestive of the star’s mortality." Available from: http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?workid=15976&tabview=work [Accessed 20th March 2010]
The reference suggests that even though she has this celebrity status, it is some what lowered to the level of the audience as she has been depicted to be be no different to any ordinary person. Like many of Warhol's work the repetition expresses the consumerist society, this could suggest that often celebrities are nothing more than the faces of these multi-coperate companies.
Piet Mondrian- Loreal Packaging (twisted De Stijl)
Marcus Harvey-
He painted a controversial painting of Mira Hindley, which was made up of children's handprints, this is referencing the murders of the children that she was found guilty of. This is what Times art critic,Richard Cork wrote after seeing the work on the day of it opening:
"Far from cynically exploiting her notoriety, Harvey's grave and monumental canvas succeeds in conveying the enormity of the crime she committed. Seen from afar, through several doorways, Hindley's face looms at us like an apparition. By the time we get close enough to realise that it is spattered with children's handprints, the sense of menace becomes overwhelming."Cork, Richard (16 September 1997), The established Clubbed, The Times, retrieved 30 September 2009
