Visual Arts Report: Contemporary Art, Identity Politics, and Artists

This report provides an analysis of contemporary art, exploring its evolution and the influence of identity politics. It begins with a chronological overview of art periods, from ancient to modern, highlighting key movements and their characteristics. The report then focuses on contemporary art, emphasizing its global influence, advanced techniques, and the expression of individual artists through unique styles. The core of the analysis examines how two contemporary artists utilize identity politics as a theme in their work, offering a framework for analyzing artworks based on subject, materials, forms, and principles, with an emphasis on self-referential art, technique, and social context. The report includes an annotated bibliography of relevant sources and a list of cited works, providing a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

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Date: 3rd May 2017
Proposal
Art periods provides a chronological timeline of the development of Art as an industry and
academic field. Before the year 500 regional art featuring the Egyptian, Greek and Roman Art
emerged. Followed by Medieval, Renaissance, Rococo, Neoclassical Art and Romantic Art it
developed into an academic art. This led to the maturity of Art as a profession with Realism,
Impressionism, Expressionism, Symbolism and Surrealism taking root. Modern art from the
1960s represents a commercialization of art with conceptual Photorealism, pop art and visual art
techniques coming up. Contemporary art revolves around the 20th and 21st Century.
Influenced globally, it comprises of art from different cultures and regions. It features advanced
techniques with a combination of ideas from different schools of thoughts. Individual artists in
this modern art school of thought express themselves creatively through unique techniques and
styles. Some combine traditional art techniques with modernity while others focus on abstract
ideas. The interpretation of artistic works in contemporary art starts with an analysis of the artists
mind and techniques used (Turner, 2013). Modern artists specialize on social themes like
feminism and politics. This paper looks at two contemporary artists who use identity politics as a
theme to express themselves through art. The analysis provides a simple solution for analyzing
artworks based on the subject, material used, forms and principles. Evident is self-referential, art
technique and social context or meaning of the art.
Annotated Bibliography
Gershon, L. "Identity politics and popular movements." Daily (2017). Web.
<https://daily.jstor.org/identity-politics-and-popular-movements/>.
Gershon (2017) describes the influence of historical issues in society on popular movements. IN
the article, identity politics focuses on social groupings, which includes gender identity, sexual
orientation, civil rights movements, occupation, religion, race and disability among others. This
paper highlights gender as a major factor in art movements used to inform people across the
ages. This discussion explains the use of art as a useful tool for speaking about social issues in
society.
Schreiber, R. "The female gaze: Women artists making their world." Woman's Art Journal 34.2
(2013): 64-66. Web.

Schreiber ( 2013 ) discusses how female artists use art to express individual ideas. Although
most feminine artists are profeminist agenda, some have deviated from this. The Journal article
looks at how these artists use techniques o represent indvidual thoughts, beliefs and opinions.
Pragmatic knowledge is individualistic and shapes schools of thoughts. Art movements stem
from such notions creating followers and critiques. Some artworks borrows from traditionalist’s
approaches, modernism and others create their own imagination.
Valerie, J, M, et al. "Bulletin of the Detroit Institute of Arts." African American Art (2012): 42-65
Valerie, Stephanie and Courtney(2012 ) identifies the use of political and social themes in art
expreessions. From the article, social consicousness is a key aspect of modern art and museum
art. It describes culture and creates awareness about the society. Feminism continues to feature as
an integral part of society inspiring and challenging notions. Art techniques develop through a
creative process that incorporates different styles. To bring out self-consciousness and group
awareness.

Works Cited
Gershon, L. "Identity politics and popular movements." Daily (2017). Web.
<https://daily.jstor.org/identity-politics-and-popular-movements/>.
Schreiber, R. "The female gaze: Women artists making their world." Woman's Art Journal 34.2
(2013): 64-66. Web.
Turner, C. Art and human rights: Contemporary Asian Contexts. Manchester University Press,
2016.
Valerie, J, M, et al. "Bulletin of the Detroit Institute of Arts." African American Art (2012): 42-
65.