Describe the basis (theories and ideals) of the following movements: a) surrealism, b) dada, c) cubism, d) minimalism.
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Surrealism is an art movement that pushes artists away from working with logic when creating art, and instead work with their dreams, their unconscious mind. The work of Sigmund Freud was to support this theory. Surrealist imagery can really take a viewer's brain out of it's comfort zone, and that is exactly what this movement intended to do. Most of the time this imagery focused around nature, opening minds left and right. The Dadaism art movement's intentions were to oppose all artistic norms, to challenge them. This in turn made Dada, anti-Dada, as those intentions were very strong within the members of the movement. Cubism was the art movement that made way for nonrepresentational art. Not only did artists abandon perspective and realism, they explored many other techniques. They let space flow through objects, blending backgrounds into foregrounds, and showing scenes from various angles. Some would argue that this is a response to the changing experiences of space, movement, and time. Minimalism is a movement that is often interpreted as a reaction against abstract expressionism. Minimalists separate themselves from abstract expressionists by leaving suggestions of biography out of their art, as well as any type of metaphors.
I have a very limited time for this to get turned in, but I have to make sure this is at least "good enough". Any suggestions are welcome, and thank you in advance.
None of the tutors here are experts at art history. Your response looks good to me. I hope it does to your teacher. From what little I know, you seem to have a basic understanding of these movements, but I'm no expert. Sorry I can't help more.
Your description of the art movements is generally accurate, but it could benefit from more specific details and examples to provide a more comprehensive understanding. Here is an expanded version of the descriptions:
a) Surrealism: Surrealism was an art movement that emerged in the 1920s, heavily influenced by the psychoanalytical theories of Sigmund Freud. Surrealist artists aimed to explore the power of the unconscious mind and tap into dreams, irrational thoughts, and desires. They sought to create artworks that defied conventional logic and representations of reality. Surrealist imagery often featured bizarre and unexpected combinations of unrelated objects or dreamlike landscapes. Some notable artists associated with surrealism include Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, and Max Ernst.
b) Dada: Dada was an artistic and cultural movement that originated during World War I, in response to the horrors of war and disillusionment with traditional values. Dadaists rejected conventional art practices and sought to challenge established norms and societal conventions. They embraced randomness, absurdity, and anti-art sentiments. Dada artworks often included unconventional materials, such as found objects and collage, and were characterized by irreverence and a playful disregard for artistic conventions. Notable Dada artists include Marcel Duchamp, Hans Arp, and Tristan Tzara.
c) Cubism: Cubism was a revolutionary art movement that emerged in the early 20th century, led by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Cubist artists aimed to depict the subject from multiple viewpoints simultaneously, breaking down objects into abstract geometric forms and challenging traditional ideas of representation. They emphasized the structure of forms rather than realistic depiction, often using fragmentary and overlapping planes to depict space and volume. Cubism revolutionized art and paved the way for non-representational and abstract art movements.
d) Minimalism: Minimalism developed in the 1960s as a reaction against the emotional expressiveness of Abstract Expressionism. Minimalist artists sought to strip away unnecessary elements and reduce art to its essential forms. Their works were characterized by simplicity, geometric shapes, and a focus on the materials and process. Minimalists often used industrial materials such as steel, glass, and concrete, and their artworks resulted in clean, precise, and impersonal aesthetics. Prominent minimalist artists include Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, and Agnes Martin.
Remember to use examples and specific artworks to further illustrate the characteristics and intentions of each movement.