VISA 482 – Research Thesis Term 1
Dylan Ranney- 56271083
The primary focus of my research this term has been studying the past and present relationships of art and morality. Through studying a broad timeline of writings on virtues and vices I have focused my graduate topic down to the realm of 21st century socio-spiritual commentary.
After I read about the trials and errors of emoting morality through paint (i.e. Kandinsky, Hagel), and through my own failures, I have decided to focus my art form primarily to 3D sculptural representations of moral dilemmas in contemporary western society, i.e. corruption, greed, workaholics, substance addiction (caffeine, drugs, pornography). The motivation behind this subject matter lies both in the healing affect of personal vulnerability and the desire to expose an apathetic western society to it’s seemingly dormant moral conscience (McIntosh). I am of the belief that all artwork is ‘preaching’ something, and I choose to wield the right to do so through sharing my own perspectives on art and morality, humanity and our vices. My research thus far has only reiterated my stance on expressing myself and as far as I know, the concept of creating 3-dimensional representations of moral vices, has not yet been attempted.
Recent research:
o Medieval perspective of art and morality (Schiller, Snell)
o Modern perspective of art and morality (McIntosh)(Muwanguzi)(Bermudez, Gardner)
o Drawing a line between emotivism and physical significance in art/ Presenting moralized sculpture in a gallery (Duncan 1-20) (MacIntyre 1-49)
o Spiritual influences in modern art, enlightenment (McIntosh)(Muwanguzi)
o Social commentary- machines with existential themes (Zucker Saltz 51)
o Moral disagreement/ emotivism (MacIntyre 6-22)
o Painting method (Cooke)
o Inspiration (Sirmans, Budney 143) (Cooke)
Bibliography
Duncan, Carol. Civilizing Rituals: Inside Public Art Museums Re Visions : Critical Studies in the History and Theory of Art. reprint. Routledge, Psychology Press, 1995. 1-20. Print.
Schiller, Frederick, and Reginald Snell. On The Aesthetic Education Of Man: The Moral Utility of Aesthetic Manners; The Stage as a Moral Institution. Dover Books on Western Philosophy. reprint. Dover Books, 2004. Print.
McIntosh, Alastair. "Narcissitic modern art cannot help us in these troubled times. We need hope through art, and this makes Wassily Kandinsky more relevant today than ever." guardian.co.uk. 21 2011: n. page. Web. 1 Dec. 2012. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/oct/21/hope-art-wassily-kandinsky-relevant?newsfeed=true>.
Muwanguzi, Dominic. "Spirituality meets modern art." The Independent- You buy the truth We pay the price. The Independent, 22 2012. Web. Web. 1 Dec. 2012. <http://www.independent.co.ug/society/society/6479-spirituality-meets-modern-art>.
MacIntyre, Alasdair. After Virtue. 3rd edition. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 2007. 1-49. Print.
Bermudez, Jose, and Sebastian Gardner. Art and Morality. reprint. Routledge, Psychology Press, 2003. 1-294. Print.
Sirmans, Franklin, Jen Budney, Menil Collection (Houston, Tex.), P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, and Miami Art Museum. NeoHooDoo: art for a forgotten faith. illustrated. The Menil Collection, 2008. 143. Print.
Zucker Saltz, Lizzie. "Arthur Ganson: Machines." 30 1996: 51. Web. 1 Dec. 2012. <http://www.arthurganson.com/pages/Saltz review.html>.
Cooke, Rachel. "Jenny Saville: 'I want to be a painter of modern life, and modern bodies'." Guardian. 9 2012: n. page. Web. 1 Dec. 2012.
