References

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Notes, References and Picture Sources

ESSAY QUESTION

1. Bart Simpson at the Sistine Chapel. (c)Matt Groaning.
Chosen because this is a good example of high art meeting low art. Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel is a world renowned example of great art, though only the privileged few who have actually visited it have experienced its splendour. The Simpsons, on the other hand, is the most successful and longest running sitcom of all time, and is also renowned the world over and watched by millions everyday. Both based on artworks and held in high regard, but inhabiting completely different cultural positions and consumed in opposite ends if the spectrum.

INTRODUCTION

2. Ashtray/No Smoking photo taken from - http://www.siu.edu/worda/persp/f97/survey.html - Copyright remains with original artist.
Chosen because it fits with the ashtray anecdote and also symbolises the forbidden, which is entirely appropriate for this study.

3. Troll with laptop image taken from - http://www3.sympatico.ca/tragiclad/images/troll.jpg - Copyright remains with original artist.
Adapted from the Billy Goats Gruff fairy tale. No matter how nice a teacher we are, we are seen as the troll on the bridge by our students. They have to communicate with us in order to pass, and sometimes probably try to edge around us before we see them. But we as the troll, we always see them and the can't hide.

ART TODAY

4. Mary and Child image by Banksy, taken from - http://www.shift.jp.org/079/semi-permanent/ - Copyright remains with original artist.
As with the Bart Simpson at the Sistine Chapel image (1.) another good example of high art meets low art, but this time in an entirely different context, namely, illegal graffiti. Bansky is a cult figure and inspiration for many students - especially in graphic design. Banksy deliberately draws on classic Christian iconography but gives it a new twist by the form in which he is working, (spraycan art), and his use of alternative symbolism (toxic symbol on the baby's bottle). Social commentary and "Is it art?" debate connected into the one image. As an aside - when asked whether Banksy would pass the Graphic Design course if it was revealed he was on the course, the answer (whilst laughing) was, "It would depend on his research."

5. Quote taken from; Harrison, C & Wood, P. 'Art in Theory: 1900 - 2000, An Anthology of Changing Ideas.' (2003) USA, Blackwell Publishing, Page 399

6. Quote taken from - http://quotes.prolix.nu/Art/Criticism/
Originally featured in Stoppard, T. Artist Descending a Staircase, (1973), London, Faber

7. Renaissance - The period during 14th and 15th Century in Western Europe which saw the revival of art, literature and learning. This era accompanied the re-discovery of the ancients philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. In retrospect the Renaissance is viewed as being not only a time which saw the rediscovery of the work of the ancient thinkers, but also a reawakening of the human spirit and the birth of modern humanism.

8. See Barnett Newman's essay 'The Sublime is Now', for one of the many studies on the artists' role in the Renaissance period, featured in: Harrison, C & Wood, P. 'Art in Theory: 1900 - 2000, An Anthology of Changing Ideas.' (2003) USA, Blackwell Publishing, Page 580

9. 'The Arts' were considered to be painting, sculpture, architecture, poetry and music. Also known as the Fine Arts. It is only when you break the visual areas of the Fine Arts down to its component parts (namely painting, sculpture and architecture), you see that architecture has by and large carved its' own path, and due to advancements in technology, appears today more as a science and mathematics based subject than it does the arts. For more on this see: Walker, J.A. Art in the age of Mass Media - Third Edition. (2001), London, Pluto Press. Page 6

10. See Jary, D & Jary, J, Collins Dictionary of Sociology - Second Edition (1995), Glasgow, HarperCollins Publications, Pages 503 and 535, - for a good overview of Public Opinion and Popular Culture

11. Image taken from - http://www.lukaroski.com/humor/old_people.html - Copyright remains with original artist. Caption written by Shawn Sobers (writer of this study)

12. For a very clearly written objective analysis on the perception of the modern art movement see: Freeland, C, But is it Art',(2001), Oxford, Oxford University Press

13. For excellent analyses of Press and Broadcasting in the UK see: Curran, J & Seaton, J, Power Without Responsibility - 5th Edition, (2003), London, Routledge. Also see: Jary, D & Jary, J, Collins Dictionary of Sociology - Second Edition (1995), Glasgow, HarperCollins Publications, Page 397 - for a good overview of Mass Media of Communication in modern society.

14. Quote taken from: Nuttal, J, Art and the Degradation of Awareness, (2001), London, Calder Publications, Page 114.

15. Metaphysics - the discipline of philosophy which primarily addresses the 'big', questions of existence (ontology) such as; "why are we here?" and "is there a god?" etc. and questions of knowing (epistemology) such as "how do I gain knowledge", and "is there an innate sense of good and bad / right and wrong?". Much Renaissance painting is addressing the human connection with the divine, thus conjuring these metaphysical questions as we 'read' the image.

16. See Curran, J and Seaton, J, 'Power Without Responsibility', 5th Edition, London, Routledge, 2003

Art's growing, challenging, family

17. Bill Viola, Emergence (2002.) Film installation, Photo: Kira Perov

18. In general terms traditionally the High Arts were considered to be painting, sculpture, architecture, literature and poetry. Became known as the Fine Arts. Although these needed a high level of craft skills, this was underplayed and the work was almost given divine status. (i.e. Renaissance painting & sculpture, Cathedrals, etc). Low Arts were basically everything else, from collage, pottery, product design, and later graphic design, photography and cartooning. It could be said that when image and text combine is when you reach the bottom of the High/Low hierarchy. (See McCloud, S, Understanding Comics - The Invisible Art, (1993), new York, HarperPerennial Books, pages 48, 49) One end of the spectrum being poetry and literature, at the other end painting and sculpture, with resistance to bring them together. In recent years the concept of high & low has been deliberately confused and broken down by artists pushing the boundaries, such as Roy Litchenstien, Andy Warhol, Michel Basquait, Bill Viola and Douglas Gordan.

19. See: Jary, D & Jary, J, Collins Dictionary of Sociology - Second Edition (1995), Glasgow, HarperCollins Publications, Page 283 - for summary of HE education system expansion.

20. Child and parent cartoon taken from - http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/ism/lowres/ismn1l.jpg - Copyright remains with original artist - www.cartoonstock.com

21. See: Walker, J.A. Art in the age of Mass Media - Third Edition. (2001), London, Pluto Press. Page 7

On: Individuality, Originality and Student Approach

22. Jake Chapman quote, 'The Art Show - How Sick Is Your Art?', Channel 4, December 2003. Although Chapman's own work has been heavily criticised for being "sick", "twisted" and "immoral" in the press, he himself accuses the painters of work such as this for being truly"sinister", "evil" and "dark". Interestingly, his argument is that this type of "bland" work is attempting to gloss over and hide the true realities in life, and in that way is playing a sick game with the viewer. "Sicker than anything I could do."

23. Tiger painting - taken from - http://www.bluepencilpro.com/fineartG.htm Copyright remains with original artist

24. Bowl of Fruit by Max Weber, oil on canvas, 1907, Forum Gallery. Copyright remains with original artist

25. Bowl of Fruit Car taken from - http://schade.spaceship.com/ArtCar2001/web_Bowl%20of%20Fruit.jpg Copyright remains with original artist

26. Eminem article taken from Q magazine - March 2004. Highlights how even though work is competent as drawings, are still viewed as naïve by the expert, though they are still aimed to fetch $12,000 at auction. Shows the contradictions and complexities of how you make value judgements about art.

On: Clichés and the Challenges of Creativity

27. Sad alarm clock photo taken from Google Search. Quote from interview for this study.
Not only does this image relate to the quote, which is referencing the use of clichés in student video work, but the photo is also a prime example of how the comic book aesthetic is at the core of how we see the world, if we are fortunate enough to have sight. Even for a baby these abstract lines are recognisable as a face - and a small child can make value judgements on whether it is happy or sad. The comic book style had taught us to see, draw and write, but maybe because it has the ability to work at this base level, it hasn't been able to flourish as an adult medium except as "cult status". See: McCloud, S, Understanding Comics - The Invisible Art, (1993), new York, HarperPerennial Books, pages 30 & 33

28. 'Homemade' Matrix photos. From top left, clockwise, images taken from - www.hostultra.com/~waveride/ dress.html, Bear Matrix photo taken from http://www.ursanity.com. Girl in shades from www.shades-of-night.com/ random/matrix.jpg. Classroom matrix from web.mit.edu/logs/www/spring.01/ spr.home.matrix.jp. Snow matrix from - www.telemark.ca/ matrix%20.JPG. Kid Matrix from - www.cs.cmu.edu/~avrim/ Aaron-matrix.JPG. Copyright remains with original photographers.

On: Commercialism, Student Direction and Industry Needs

29. Graffiti cartoon taken from - http://www.6floor.ru/home/caricat.htm. Copyright remains with original artist. Caption by Shawn Sobers, (writer of this study.)

30. Advertising image taken from - http://www.pifx.com/internet/marketing-publicidad/publicidadtelefonia.php

On: Importance of Process and Assessment Criteria

31. Lisa Simpson in Little Black Dress - Copyright remains with original artist - (c)Matt Groaning

32. Fashion graffiti taken from - http://www.bombingscience.com/world19.htm - Finland. Copyright remains with original artist
Graffiti is an interesting area, as it started off as an underground highly illegal activity. Was embraced by some New York galleries during the 80's and made the artists famous. (Most well known being Michel Basquait and Keith Haring). Now its influence can be seen in many areas of contemporary graphic design. Also interesting in light of McCloud's theory of Western art resisting the combination of text and image, which upheld high & low art notions. Graffiti actively turns text into an image, and introduced/invented a whole new approach to arts practice, though is still frowned upon in academia at its most 'pure' form.

Summary - Other types of 'problem' work

33. Rabbit painting taken from the "Bad Art - Cheap!" website. Find at - http://www.diannevetromile.com/BadArtCheap.htm Copyright remains with original artist

Summary - High Art, Low Art

34. Man with Mickey hat photo taken from - http://omega19x.tripod.com/disney.htm Copyright remains with original artist
This is an interesting image as has classic portraiture lighting, in dramatic style. Very distinguished model which adds to serious mood of the composition. All this is deliberately undermined by the MickyMouse style hat the model is wearing. Highlights how the abstract shapes which constitute the make up of the hat are deeply embedded in our consciousness and are instantly recognisable via the mass media. Also how the comic book aesthetic is embedded in us deeper than we realise, and effects the way we see the world.

Summary - Can students get away with certain types of work

35. Teapot photos taken from - http://www.brand-new-rocket.com/parlorgoods.html Copyright remains with original artist

Summary - Polished, Bland and Safe work

36. Tattoo photo taken from "Human Canvas/Tattoo You" by Dallas Faulkner, VERGE Staff. Find at - http://www.vergemag.com/0601/features/features3.html Copyright remains with original photographer.

Summary -Being Influenced vs Being Inspired vs Being Informed

37. Mona Lisa with guitar adaptation, taken from - http://www.webstrings.com/mona-lisa%20800.html
Interesting point to consider - should this be copyrighted to the website it came from, or Leonardo da Vinci?

Summary - Students challenging Tutors challenging Students

38. Quote taken from Barnett, R & Griffin, A, The End of Knowledge in Higher Education (1997), London, Cassell, page 132

39. Spy vs Spy image from http://urbanlegend.f2o.org/legends/ Copyright remains with original artist
This image was included because even though the spies always seem to be in conflict with one another, they actually can't exist without eachother. The same relationship as Tom & Jerry and other cartoon double acts. Though not to be taken literally, is an interesting interpretation of the student/tutor relationship, which highlights the trust, communication and "banter" needed to stop the relationship breaking down. Also highlights the power relations which exist between the the two characters, some of which may be traditional and completely arbitrary. (e.g. why are the spies fighting eachother? Why do they behave / think like that?"

40. Barnett, R & Griffin, A, The End of Knowledge in Higher Education (1997), London, Cassell, page 132

41. Barnett, R & Griffin, A, The End of Knowledge in Higher Education (1997), London, Cassell, page 132

42. Barnett, R & Griffin, A, The End of Knowledge in Higher Education (1997), London, Cassell, page 132

43. Barnett, R & Griffin, A, The End of Knowledge in Higher Education (1997), London, Cassell, page 133

44. Mad magazine, cover taken from - http://www.blueharvest.net/images/toon/ Copyright remains with original artist.
This is included for two prime reasons. This cover references the comments in the last paragraph of the chapter Re: Star Wars. This subsequently highlights the second point: Shows example of how post-modern popular culture converges media and cross references eachother and collapses time & space and cultural barriers: i.e. comics referencing Hollywood movies using the instantly recognisable symbols of a well known character. In this particular case, the character is a fusion of two well known characters (Yoda and Edward E.Newman) and the readership know the references without any difficulty. This is the same climate in which creative arts are produced, with all the styles, approaches and references at ones disposal. Work of this type knows its audience, but can also assume it will have mass appeal due to the popular references it has employed.

Future Challenges

45. Quote taken from: Walker, J.A. Art in the age of Mass Media - Third Edition. (2001), London, Pluto Press. Page 180.

46. "I can't paint" cartoon taken from - http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/a/art_exhibitions.asp Copyright remains with original artist.

47. Some of the pressures on UK universities are; Top-up fees; Widening Participation; growing concern over student debt; recommendations to make more industry links to make degrees more vocational; the reality that foreign and mature students bring in lots of money; the maturity and competence gap between schools and universities; the skills-gap between degree and industry; the reluctance of many students not to want to leave their home towns due to financial constraints; and the fact that students will become increasingly stringent about the universities they apply for.

48. Tightrope cartoon - http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/t/tighrope_walkers.asp Copyright remains with original artist.

CONCLUSION

49. Quote taken from Williams, R, Keywords, (1988), London, Fontana Press, page 82

50. Puppet Master image taken from - http://artgeek5000.com/main.html Copyright remains with original artist.

51. These questions were asked to the whole group during the first module of the Academic Development Programme course in January 2003. They were also asked to my colleagues in preparation for this study.

52. Seabrook, J, Nobrow: The Culture of Marketing, The Marketing of Culture, (2000), New York, Knopf Books . Outlines what happens when the old elite distinctions of caste and taste, and the distinctions between highbrow and lowbrow no longer apply. Highlights the cultural shifting that is happening in a climate where "artists exhibit in K-Mart, museums are filled with TV screens and the brand on a shirt is more important than its cut."

53. See: www.randomhouse.com/vintage/seabrook.html - Interview with John Seabrook the author.

54. Influential Danish filmmaker who pioneered a group of other directors to adopt a manifesto which informed their style of filmmaking, heavily based on restrictions rather than freedom, to challenge themselves to become more creative. The rules are called the Vow of Chastity. To see them in full visit - http://www.martweiss.com/film/dogma95-thevow.shtml

55. Quote taken from: Gurevitch, M. Bennet, T. Curran, J. Woollacott, J. Culture, Society and the Media. (1982), London, Routeledge.
Page 48. Karl Marx caricature taken from - http://www.eye5.org.uk/calendarcards.html Copyright remains with original artist.
I think it's apt that it ends with an image of Marx, as he is an influential figure in Sociology of Art theory, especially in the schools of Structuralism and Semiotics. Marxist notions also exist in Hermeneutics, which has become central to the debate of arts appreciation in the post-modern era. When all said and done, it's all in the eye of the beholder, and translated accordingly.