I thought I would use these two images I used in another class to talk about the idea of that is built upon: art that is built upon other works of art. We mostly think of this with music, and songs that are remixes of other songs, but it's a concept that exists in all areas of art. We tend to look down on things that are obviously built on other works, like remixes, thinking that it doesn't take much skill or effort to create something so closely linked to another piece. However, no art really comes from a truly original concept; in one way or another, everything is built upon past ideas or methods. That doesn't mean they didn't take any skill to create, it just means that they borrowed ideas to create something wonderful. With this in mind, we should recognize that all art takes skill to create and should judge each thing separately on its own merits, recognizing that it may have borrowed elements from other works but is its own piece and should be looked on as such.
Your post made me think of literary archetypes and how the same story gets told over and over (say the hero's quest) but each new telling takes skill to create something that is engaging and entertaining. Visual art is like that too.
ReplyDeleteIt is, Nicole - isn't there a word to describe that - "motif"? These two pieces together made me laugh - just the desired effect, I'm sure. The Simpson's are an amazingly creative spoof on North American culture - I am amazed they still have anything to write about after more than 20 years! Your post, Evan, raises an interesting relationship between creativity and skill for producing art. Yes, recycled motifs but in a new and personal way and with technical skill with the tools and materials. Your post also reminds me that Bloom's taxonomy has been revised to describe synthesis as creativity and make it the highest form of thinking - putting things together in a new way is original even if all the components that are combined are not.
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