COP1 Lecture 3 - A 20,000 Year Non-Linear History of the Image

 This lecture was based around looking at how image and visual communication has evolved over time.

We began by looking at the cave drawings in Lascaux Caves in France. These drawings are the earliest example of image making and they are done in a very spiritual, primal way.
There is an element of magic and mysticism, making the images very spectral and powerful.
This kind of image from 20,000 BC can be linked in with modern day work, such as Cy Twombly's Lepanto, 2001. Again, he has created these images in a very powerful emotive and spiritual way, and this connects to the cave drawings in an energetic way.
We also looked at how Richard Long's 1989 Red Earth Circle proves a point of similarities between modern and aboriginal art, there is a continuity.

We looked at how Rothko's paintings from 1971 are based around looking into the abyss as they suck light in, with no reflection. This again represents a spiritual experience, similar to ones we experience in places such as old churches like Papal Alter & Frescoes, 1230. In both senses we gather to worship infront of an altar or culture. The behaviour in galleries is very similar to the behaviour in churches.
This is demonstrated with pieces such as the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, Paris. People visit the gallery to almost worship the painting, which shows the power of image making. It has glamour and importance.

But why is this art meaningful? Just because people are queueing up to see it? Or because it is behind bullet proof glass?

Creating byproducts of capitalism, such as Mona Lisa mugs, bags and plates does something to the authority of art and greats an aura of greatness and power. Or does it degrade art? In the digital age of photography and film, people are now able to take art, steal it, recycle and reuse it.

We then looked at how the socialist realism painting style was a way of creating art everyone understands, the art of the every man, in response to the Western, kooky, fun art that Russia claimed nobody understood.

We also looked at famous and powerful images, for example Alberto Korda's image of Che Guevara
that became one of the most popular photographs in history. This is similar to Shepard Fairey's Obama 'HOPE' poster, and Nick Ut's Nepalm photograph from 1972.

Overall, the main message from this lecture was that imagery has the power to move us. Image making has a persuasive power that can effect us emotionally and that helps change, adapt and shape the world around us.