Entertainment and Visual Culture, Essay Example

We have spent a fair amount of discussion time on the idea of context, that an art object has a specific relationship with the culture or person that produced it, which is not always reflected in its display as a visual object today. Look at the theme of Food and Shelter and pick (3) three distinct objects from the chapter that demonstrate this idea of context while also illuminating the ideas of the theme itself.

Food and shelter are themes that resonate with numerous works of art. Many works of art in the form of architecture are a depiction of the cultural influence of the society within which the structure was designed. Furthermore, many art artefacts that depict the theme of food are also influenced by the given culture, community and even geographic location where the artefact was made.

In the text, image 1.23 of the Grand Mosque in Djenne, Mali built between 1906 and 1907 is a true depiction of how an art object has a specific relationship with the culture or person that produced it. The mosque is predominantly built out of sand and logs. This is because the North African tribes live in a desert area where sand is the only building material that is readily available. It is evident that this structure depicts their culture and way of life.

In the text image 1.21, the “Le Dejeuner en fourrure” is a fur covered, saucer, cup and spoon. The object was made in 1936. It was made by Meret Oppenheim. This object is a rather bizarre combination of the elements where the cup, saucer and spoon are all covered in fur. This is a very good example where the relationship with the culture or the person who produced it is not reflected in its display as a visual object today.

In the text, image 1.24 of the Badshahi Mosque in Pakistan made between 1672 and 1674 is a portrayal of the Pakistani architectural style. The style that the entrance has assumed is typically Pakistani with the roofs having an Asian influence. The culture of the Pakistani that is present in their architecture is seen in the structure.

Make comparisons of current television programs, motion pictures and comic strips with (2) two examples in the text. Consider the historical context in your analysis.

The current television programs, motion pictures and comic strips are mostly dominated by one theme, the end of the world, otherwise known as apocalypse or doomsday. This is a huge contrast to the television programs, motion pictures and comic strips of two decades ago.

Most of the currently trending television programs today are either filled with werewolves and vampires, like True Bloodand the Vampire Diaries, or are depicting the end and fall of governmental structures and institutions as a result of a human triggered mega event, like in The Walking Dead. Some even point towards an invasion from an alien species, like in Falling Skies and Defiance. This is very different from Television programs of the 90s. Most of the television programs that were watched in that era were family oriented and had a lot of comedy in them. Some of the most famous programs of the era were Different Strokes and Mumford and Sons. These shows were purely family oriented and aimed to bring out the comedy that is experienced in everyday family living.

Motion Pictures and Comic Strips have also adopted a similar trend as the television programs. The highest gross earning movies in 2013 entailed movies that depicted a barrage of doomsday prophecies that are seen to be uncovered in different ways. Most notably, there has been an increase of the superhero genre. In the past 5years, superhero movies have graced the theatre and comic books, being the highest earning, most watched and most read. Batman: The Dark Night, Superman: Man of Steel, Iron Man, Thor and the Avengers have dominated both cinema and comic books alike. This is also a huge contrast with the movies that showed about two decades ago. Most of the movies were romantic and also action oriented. Good example include The Notebook and Rambo.

These contrasts in media depict the changing social, technological and even ideological aspects of society that is depicted through all forms of art.

Works Cited

Lazzari, Margaret and Dona Scleiser. Exploring Art: A global Thematic Approach. Boston: Wadsworth / Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.