SM and SGAG Gallery Visits and Discussion of Reading

Thursday, 2/11

We will share a class discussion, based on the readings/discussion questions.

Focus questions for discussion:

1. Describe the historical, social and cultural background from which the "pictures generation" emerged. 
2. The author, Douglas Eklund, describes the pictures generation as the last cohesive art movement. What were some of the main concerns that these artists took up?
3. The term "hipster" might be what the author, Douglas Eklund, describes as a "commercialized pastiche of rebellious stances prepackaged for consumption." (Think about it...) This would surely cause some to bristle. How might the attitudes and methods of the pictures generation artists be categorized as proto-hipster (even if such as question might cause some to bristle)? 
4. What are the main ideas or concepts Laurie Simmons engages in her work?
5. What are some distinct differences between the conceptual approaches of Cindy Sherman and Laurie Simmons?

Grad student question:

1. Describe the important components (and problems) of postmodernism, as author Andy Grunberg describes them, such as pluralism, structuralism/poststructuralism (deconstruction), artifice, pastiche, media self-referentiality, appropriation, etc.

Useful Links:

Conceptual Art:

http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/c/conceptual-art

Pop Art

http://www.theartstory.org/movement-pop-art.htm

Metro Pictures

http://www.metropictures.com

The Met, The pictures generation

http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2009/pictures-generation

Richard Prince

http://www.richardprince.com/photographs/cowboys/#/detail/1/

Sherrie Levine

http://blog.art21.org/2011/04/15/how-to-explain-sherrie-levine-to-your-grandmother/#.VrYr7kJwWWU

Cindy Sherman

http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2012/cindysherman/#/3/

Laurie Simmons

http://www.lauriesimmons.net/photographs/