Below are the reviews from 6 videos for week 15. I learned some things that can be used in my art criticism assignment. There is really an 'eye test' that must be passed to qualify art, that means personal value judgements can be used. I like that the way to be a critic is be properly trained, that is to write, write, and then write some more.
1. Greenberg on Art Criticism, and Interview With T J Clarke. Clement Greenberg says that "writing about visual art is much tougher than writing about literature or music". Greenberg thinks the best art in the last 50 years has been abstract art, ever since America's culture boom in the 1940's. Great past critics like Ruskin and Sylvester were not philosophical, but used value judgements, like using intuition. They discuss value judgements in modern criticism.
2. Greenberg on Pollack, an Interview with T J Clarke: Greenberg and Clark discussed Pollack 25-years after his death. Greenberg likes Pollack's practical approach, even though it was greakish, from the mid-40's on. Pollock claimed his technique of drip-art the the "end of easel painting", but it was not actually true. Pollack moved away from containment and orderliness. Greenberg says that some of Pollack's works indeed failed the "eye test", a value judgement. Pollack ultimately realized his work would not be accepted as true painting by the historical view.
3. An Introduction to the Italian Renaissance, by Giorgio Vasari: Giorgio Vasari wrote "Lives of the Artists" in the 16th centruy, probably the first actual art criticism. All the great masters developed techniques passed on to them from the work of previous artists. Vasari reveals the innovations of old artists Griotto, DaVinci, Michalangelo, and others. Vasari did a lot of interpretation of the works of the artists in his criticism.
4. The Critics: Stories From The Inside Pages: Dr. Dwight DeWerth-Pallmeyer took an in-depth look at art criticism as an art form, including social value, and their individual careers. He interviewed famous critics like Joel Siegel, Richard Schickel, Bill Friskies-Warren, Maureen Corrigan. Critics are supposed to get us to think, and to 'light the way', for books, movies, art exhibits. But effective art criticism takes logic, emotional support, and personal credibility. The key to training to becoming a good critic is the write, then to write, and then to write some more.... a good philosophy.
5. The Colonial Encounters, Views of Non-Western Art and Culture: The 1900 Paris Workd Fair was an example of how the Western world was prejudice against underdeveloped countries. They did not seriously include art from anywhere outside European culture. The African Dahome art was not taken seriously, and mostly French art was on display for the exhibit, even though it was a "world fair". Colonialism in Africa was portrayed as justifed with the images shown in the exhibit. Racism and colonialism was running wild in those days, for both black Africans, and also northern Africans, like the Algerians.
6. Jackson Pollack: Michael Fried and T J Clark in Conversation: Fried and Clark have argued in the past about art criticism. They discussed two of Pollack's works, and tried to find some common agreements. They reviewed "Lavendar Mist" and also "Autumn Rhythm". They both agree that Pollack is an important artist, but with a lot of negatives about him. They agree on his value for different reasons. They argue about action in art, value in art, and optical and tactical aspects. But they both are committed to a historical way of looking at art, but Pollack's work, unfortunately cannot qualify as historical art. There lies the problem with judging Jackson Pollack.
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