What is a pop art?
Many people associate the name of pop art with America, or New York. But actually, pop art movement was originated in Britain in mid 1950s. The first utilization of the term Pop art happened between one of the institute of Contemporary Art in London, which was called the Independent Group. Richard Hamilton, Edouardo Paolozzi, Peter Blake, John McHale, Lawrence Alloway, Jon Thompson, Richard Smith were the member of the Independent Group. Soon, the pop art spread to America, and reached its height in 1960s.
The pop artists drew consumer goods, advertisements and various kinds of mass communications such as movies, television, newspapers and magazines. That was the time when United States enjoyed an unusual period of economic and political growth after finishing War. Lots of Americans who had lived in the city moved to the suburbs where the homes are inexpensive and the prices are relatively low. The “Cultural Revolution” happened during that time, by many artists’ leading. Elvis Presley promoted the popularity of rock and roll, Marilyn Monroe was becoming film star, and television replaced radio. The young people born during the Post-World War II generation were enthusiastic about pop art, the new kind of drawing which reflect the prosperity of popular culture.
A lot of famous American artists were amazingly active in this time especially in New York. They are Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, George Brecht, Marisol, Tom Wesselmann, Majorie Strider, Allan D’Arcangelo. They rejected esoteric art, and tried to express their optimism after undergoing hardship and privation of War. They also wanted to interactive communication, and gain sympathy through their art works with people. For example, Andy Warhol drew soup can, flowers, and shoes. We can easily see these objects in everyday life. By drawing familiar things to people, Andy Warhol intended people to feel comfortable and friendly of his works. There were no rules in pop art, but there were some common styles that they used.
Ø Recognizable imagery, drawn from popular media and products
Ø Usually very bright colors
Ø Flat imagery influenced by comic books and newspaper photographs
Ø Images of celebrities of fictional characters in comic books, advertisements and fan magazines.
Ø In sculpture, an innovative use of media
<From Website – Moma Learning>
As you see above, there are the clear characteristics of pop art, but not manifesto. An Art manifesto is a public declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of an artists or artistic movements [Wikipedia]. Pop artists didn’t write manifesto together. However, a pop artist named Claes Oldenburg wrote his manifesto “I am for an Art” in 1961, reacting against Abstract Expressionism. This is the one part of the “I am for an Art”. “I am for an art that is political-erotical-mystical that does something other than sit on its ass in a museum”.
I could use one merit to of pop art to improve my work, which is the popularity. Since many people think art is difficult to understand, I would like to draw my deer by using the points which is easy to access and understand for everyone. I hope that people of all ages and both genders feel free to watch my deer. Basically the more people sympathize about something, the more popularity is gained. It could be the art works, novels, movies, or music. Like Andy Warhol’s soup can or Marilyn Monroe, I want to combine something related to the recent icon of popular culture to the deer.
Bibliography
· Evans, Marrion Bobby. "The Difference Between Art Styles, Schools and Movements." About Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fpainting.about.com%2Fcs%2Fpaintinghistory%2Fa%2Fartstyles.htm>.
· "Pop Art." Pop Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2015. <http://www.artmovements.co.uk/popart.htm>.
· "Pop Art Movement, Artists and Major Works." The Art Story. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Aug. 2015. <http://www.theartstory.org/movement-pop-art.htm>.
· Gersh-Nesic, Beth. "The History of Pop Art (1950s-1970s)." About Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2015. <http://arthistory.about.com/od/modernarthistory/a/Pop-Art-Art-History-101-Basics.htm>.
· "Pop Art." Moma Learning. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2015. <https%3A%2F%2Fwww.moma.org%2Flearn%2Fmoma_learning%2Fthemes%2Fpop-art>.
· Pensum. "Claes Oldenburg: I Am for an Art." Artist Statements. N.p., 03 Feb. 2011. Web. 16 Aug. 2015. <https://artiststatements.wordpress.com/2011/02/03/claes-oldenburg-i-am-for-an-art/>.
· "Pop Art." - the Art of Popular Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2015. <http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/art_movements/pop_art.htm>.
Ø Usually very bright colors
Ø Flat imagery influenced by comic books and newspaper photographs
Ø Images of celebrities of fictional characters in comic books, advertisements and fan magazines.
Ø In sculpture, an innovative use of media
<From Website – Moma Learning>
As you see above, there are the clear characteristics of pop art, but not manifesto. An Art manifesto is a public declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of an artists or artistic movements [Wikipedia]. Pop artists didn’t write manifesto together. However, a pop artist named Claes Oldenburg wrote his manifesto “I am for an Art” in 1961, reacting against Abstract Expressionism. This is the one part of the “I am for an Art”. “I am for an art that is political-erotical-mystical that does something other than sit on its ass in a museum”.
I could use one merit to of pop art to improve my work, which is the popularity. Since many people think art is difficult to understand, I would like to draw my deer by using the points which is easy to access and understand for everyone. I hope that people of all ages and both genders feel free to watch my deer. Basically the more people sympathize about something, the more popularity is gained. It could be the art works, novels, movies, or music. Like Andy Warhol’s soup can or Marilyn Monroe, I want to combine something related to the recent icon of popular culture to the deer.
Bibliography
· Evans, Marrion Bobby. "The Difference Between Art Styles, Schools and Movements." About Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fpainting.about.com%2Fcs%2Fpaintinghistory%2Fa%2Fartstyles.htm>.
· "Pop Art." Pop Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2015. <http://www.artmovements.co.uk/popart.htm>.
· "Pop Art Movement, Artists and Major Works." The Art Story. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Aug. 2015. <http://www.theartstory.org/movement-pop-art.htm>.
· Gersh-Nesic, Beth. "The History of Pop Art (1950s-1970s)." About Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2015. <http://arthistory.about.com/od/modernarthistory/a/Pop-Art-Art-History-101-Basics.htm>.
· "Pop Art." Moma Learning. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2015. <https%3A%2F%2Fwww.moma.org%2Flearn%2Fmoma_learning%2Fthemes%2Fpop-art>.
· Pensum. "Claes Oldenburg: I Am for an Art." Artist Statements. N.p., 03 Feb. 2011. Web. 16 Aug. 2015. <https://artiststatements.wordpress.com/2011/02/03/claes-oldenburg-i-am-for-an-art/>.
· "Pop Art." - the Art of Popular Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2015. <http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/art_movements/pop_art.htm>.