Cultural chatter

Artists focus on many different issues in their work. Some concentrate on color, or form, while others focus on social issues. These “social artists” are trying to convey certain problems that are happening in the world that need to be paid more attention to. McLuhan says that technology has created many new environments in which we can perceive the world. For example, most of us are aware that hunger is a major problem throughout the world but we do not need to travel to a third world country to see this. Through film and television we are shown sad images of children in need of help. This is the “television environment” in which people perceive the problem of hunger. There are many problems that the artist could warn us about from racism, to healthcare, to the ever growing and trendy problem of being “green,” which is demonstrated by the two images on the blog. The first being of many companies that make up some windmills, showing that they are a part of the green movement. The second being a more simple photograph of windmills, which still plants an idea in people’s heads about protecting the environment. Artists can reflect on anything they choose and most likely it will be a topic that they truly care about.

The role of the artist is not only to warn or show a different perspective in the world. But it is also their role to challenge the current trends. This is how many movements start, just by a single question like hey, should we be using this much gas? Or can’t we reuse these bottles?. One of artist’s main objectives is to create a new viewpoint just like Picasso did with cubism. He created a completely revolutionary genre of painting by showing all viewpoints of an object not just one. If he can paint it why can’t we look at certain issues from every viewpoint? Artists also can revive the old ways of thinking. Everything in today’s society is over stimulating digital images. Many photographers have switched back or continued the use of film and old printing styles including David Bailey, and Jack Dykinga. Film photography is in opposition to automatic just pressing a button. It actually has a human touch and a humble quality that digital cannot mimic. Overall artists are trying to create something that makes one think about the world around them and the impact that one makes.