Appropriation and Art Essay

annexation in the visual arts is when an artist takes possession of anothers work and re-uses it in a different context, most commonly in order to reveal issues surrounding authoritativeity or a meaning not apparent in the authoritative work1. The types of appropriation use by artists intromit re-visioning, re-evaluation, variation, imitation, parody, homage, mimicry and allusion2. The practice of appropriation is a tradition that has been adopted by artists through let on history, but in much recent times has occasion an art movement that questions the whole creative process, intending more to bring out a new meaning.In order to determine whether copying dates when exploitation artwork is a valid technique, or an ethical approach, two examples of historic appropriated images are considered the Third of May painted lordly by Fancisco Goya in 1808, and The Creation of tenner painted by Michelangelo in 1511. Francisco Goyas authentic piece empower Third of May, depicts Napol eons promenade executing Spanish resisters.The ikon is divided in two sections, on the right of the painting are Napoleons troops build up and ready to shoot and on the left are the resisters, some asleep(predicate) while the others beg for their lives. The impending execution of civilians lies at the heart of the painting, highlight the nuisance of war and the injustices it brings. Third of May by Francisco Goya (1808)4 This image was after appropriated by Edouart Manets in his painting entitled The execution of emperor butterfly Maximilian in 1867.As with the original, the painting is also divided into two sections. On the right side are the troops ready to fire and execute. On the opposite side are the unarmed civilians awaiting their deaths, the onlookers watching in horror and dismay. The Execution of Emperor Maximilian by Edouard Manet (1867)5 This image was subsequently appropriated by Pablo Picasso in his painting Massacre in Korea. Like the original and Manets version , the painting is divided into two sections, the organised troops to the right, the civilians to the left.The painting by Picasso differs from the original in that a more novel form of art (abstract) is used to portray the characters and scene. It also contrasts the two groups more, the innocent victims world less swell defined and more vulnerable and the soldiers more dominant5. Consequently, the image is more indicatory of the barbarism associated with war and the universal civilian suffering it brings, rather than the sensation events depicted in the two others. Massacre in Korea by Pablo Picasso (1951)6 some other example of appropriation in art is the classic painting by Michelangelo entitled The Creation of ten that adorns the roof of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. assorted in 1510, it portrays God reaching for Adam to give him the spark of behavior, and rewards the Christian beliefs that dominated life at the time. It is such an iconic image that its use by other artist s in their own kit and caboodle cannot be seen as forgery. And the image has been used by others. The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo (1510)7Amongst the artists that have used this image, a painting by Samuel Bak entitled Creation of Wartimes II (1999) is a prime example of appropriating an image to range a different story. In has painting, Bak borrows from Michelangelo to ask the question, Where is God? , as Adam lies amongst the rubble of a ruined world. Creation of Wartimes II by Samuel Bak (1999)8 The original Michelangelo image has also been parodied in mainstream entertainment like The Simpsons, as in the fiber of The Homer of Seville shown in 2007.The Homer of Seville (2007)9 In a standardized fashion, Andreas Krapf s pop art painting entitled Al officey draws on Michelangelos work to acquit a message about modern society. Almighty by Andreas Krapf (2009)10 As is evident from these examples of appropriation, there is no adept that the artist who uses previous works is t rying to hide the fact that they copied the original. In fact, it appears that the artist wants the viewer to recognize the image, so that they can compare their original associations to the context that is now being portrayed.To argue that copying is not a valid approach to developing artwork, instead comparing it to plagiarism, misses the point. By clear referring to the original, the artist is in way acknowledging the former work, and only borrowing it to reinforce or add to the message that was originally intended. This can sometimes abate the impact or meaning of the original work, as in the case of some parodies, but appropriation in the art world is as old as art itself and cannot be dismissed as being invalid.In terms of the ethics of appropriation, artists should be free to comment on society, and use whatever means they see as necessary to convey their message. The act of using other peoples work might seem a bit like cheating, but it differs from forgery, in that Picass o was not copying a Goya painting and trying to pass it off as a Goya painting. He, like other artists who have appropriated the work of others before them, wanted the viewer to make the connection with the previous image and add to it so that the original message becomes even more powerful, or has a more modern context.Referenceshttp//www.all-art.org/history480-3.html