Visual culture is an evolution of art history. The latter field of study tended to focus on heroic artists who were either famous in their own lifetimes or subsequently became famous following their demise. It is flawed in this way as it fails to attach significance to peers of the heroes who were perhaps prpducing similar work at a similar time and place and socio-economic political context. As such, it is a skewed perspective that places particular artists on a pedestal and reinforces the genius in an ivory ptower paradigm. In contrast, Visual Culture attempts a more ‘realistic’ approach, taking into account the situation s and circumstances from which art was created. What was going on in the society in which the artist lived at the time, who was in power politically, what kind of economic system was in place? The assumption is that all of these factors influenced the artist in the creation of their work. The meaning can be extracted differently. An art history survey could be a study of found filmmaking from 1927-2010, taking in key names, dates, periods and artworks. However, a Visual Culture survey could also include theories, alternative ideas and criticism. May include tools from critical theory and cultural studies. Need to read some art history PhD theses to get an idea. Art history focuses on the aesthetic valued of a work, whereas Visual Culture focuses on the cultural meaning of a work of art. Art history was quite elitist in what could be studied, while visual culture incorporates film, tc, photography, graphic design and new media etc. The traditional view is that a work of art speaks to people no matter what time, space or socio-political / economic system is in place when the piece is perceived anew, while visual culture says that it is omportant to take the circumstances of the works’ creation into consideration but also the situation in which it is viewed – impacts on the perceived meaning within the piece. If we take the Mona Lisa – from a visual culture perspective, we need to analyse what was going on in Florence, Italy in the early 1500s from social, political, economic and cultural perspectives. Also, one could take a piece, say the Mona Lisa and study how it was received in different times, places and periods as a progression over time, that is, if we look at the Mona Lisa today, do we still perceived the same meaning as people who viewed it in Italy in the 1500s? Civilisation – Kenneth Clark. Robert Hughes – Shock of the New. Ways of Seeing – John Berger. Walter Benjamin.
CriticalRemix.com
Dr. Owen Gallagher, SFHEA
