Video Reviews

I chose the first three videos because I have always been fascinated and confused by Pop and Modern Art. I hoped watching the films would help me understand the styles better. I chose the last video because I wanted to know about Rothko's work,
Andy Warhol: Images of an Image
Ten Lizes 1963
Warhol began as commercial artist
Silkscreen Marilyn Monroe made Warhol famous
Silkscreen process-enlarge original image, contrast can be changed, results in large half tone sheet, screen of mesh is stretched across frame and treated with a light sensitive material.  Then layed on screen and exposed to light. Then it is rinsed with water, the black unexposed parts dissolve, while the white parts harden filling in the screen. This creates a negative image. It is then placed over the final surface, inked is poured and forced through the screen and creates a positive image.
Much of Warhol's work is a parable of mass production. The variation of the silkscreen technique mimics defects of mass produced molded objects.
Create the idea that celebrities are products just like a can of soup
Warhol was extremely narcissistic and obsessed with the idea of celebrity
Warhol used Polaroids as the basis for silkscreens
Subject of works (Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor) are recognizable even with flaws, variations and destruction of original image

Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the 50s and 60s
Figurative vs. Abstract: Abstract art wants viewer to think and feel about what the painting is. Space is different in each styles. In figurative painting the imaginary space around it grows. Abstract works in the real space between the viewer and the painting.
Action painting: the actions of the artist while painting is important as the final painting.
Difficult for an artist to be done with an abstract painting
Helen Frankenthaler impacted other color field artists-used cloth instead of canvas. This caused the paint to really seep in and appear to emerge from the painting
en caustic technique-oil paint mixed with solution of melted bee's wax. This dries quickly leaving translucent colors. It also holds brush strokes well
Pop Art movement was not a clear, coherent movement. Artists of the movement were brought together because they lived in the same city. Pop Art was the first 20th century movement since Futurism to embrace the rhythms of city life.
Warhol and Rauschenber paved way for pop artists to use everyday objects in art
Warhol became a brand-produced thousands of silkscreen portraiture of celebrities and wealthy upper class-many of his works were not actually executed by Warhol himself but by his assistants
Lichenstein used the idea of the comic book to create his works

Uncertainty: Modernity and Art
Greek statues offer the idealistic human form
Industrial Revolution separates man from nature-leads to modern life
Modern art has made obscurity popular
Modern art changes as society changes
Modern life means living with doubt
Cubism is deliberately primitively drawn to fight the recognizable. figures are fragmented then put back together
Abstract art puts the viewer in an experiment and provokes questions but gives no answers
Abstract Expressionist artists dared the viewer to look into the void
Pop Art communicates the ever growing value of consumerism
The growth of China economically helped moved China away from propaganda art to the avant garde

Power of Art: Rothko
Rothko committed suicide in 1970 because he had spent so much time in his mind and the realm of the dead
Rothko was commissioned to do paintings for the Four Seasons Restaurant in the Seagrams building in New York. He was paid $35,000, what would be the equivalent of $2.5 million today.
Born in Russia 1903 and then immigrated to the United States
Sought to communicate tragedy and basic human emotions through his art
Viewed the Seagram paintings as fight against the wealthy that would dine there. He hoped the diners would lose their appetites
After dining at the Four Seasons, Rothko decided his paintings will never hang in the Four Seasons because the people will never look at his paintings
Began to break down (chain smoking, alcoholism) and fell into melancholy that was reflected in his work


The video relate to the text because they discuss some of the most important artistic movements of the 20th century.

The videos were interesting and kept my attention. They went into more depth and discussed more artists than the text.