Foundation of the Culture Industry

Nato Thompson’s Seeing Power opens up new doors for the minds of young individuals as myself in the world of Art and Activism. Before Seeing Power and The Interventionist, I was completely unaware of may issues artist face in the world today. The 19^th Century happens to be one of the most intriguing and important centuries for industrialization, materialism as well as very important artists as well. Nato Thompson touches on the 19^th Century in his book stating that materialism and industrialization is the foundation of the culture industry.

It comes as no surprise to see that the industry has come up with many great sources of technology especially with the vast sources of resources we have as well as artificial intelligence. Nato opens up his first chapter saying, “Every day, the culture industry-movie studios, advertising firms, social media conglomerates, galleries and so on-plucks the fruit of art and activism’s labors, ingests it, and regurgitates a new substance for a voracious and growing nest of consumers around the world.” (Nato, 3) Society as a whole including the industry is constantly moving at a fast pace trying to produce more and be up to date with technology, shopping malls , politics , art , pretty much everything that keeps this world going round. We see change every single day but, “given the complete transformation that the culture industry has had on everyday life, it is shocking to find that artists and activists continue to talk about their work as though the world has not changed.” (Nato, 5).  This is where I become entirely confused. How do artist feel this way knowing that their art is changing with the times?! We have artists who have come such a long way and even some artist who have changed the world through their work! Politics, romance, materialism, industrialization, war, slavery, emotions and the list can go on and on are all perfect examples of things that change with time.

Guernica by Pablo Piccaso

Well known artist, Pablo Picasso painted a piece that is well known for social commentary, this art piece is called ‘Guernica’. This piece brought light to the harsh absurdity of the Spanish Civil War in the 1930’s. This painting has gotten a lot reactions by many people for decades and still to this very day. The scene shown in the painting is based on a journalist experience of a bombing that took place during the Spanish Civil War. The different painful shapes, painful expressions all creates powerful images of the horrendous, horrible war. This painting itself has traveled the world carrying its message to the audiences that come to view it. This piece provoked individuals to see the true pain and suffering those encountered after this tragic event. Not for nothing this piece of art work it very moving because though we are aware of bombings and war we don’t really get to see the true reactions from people until it is shown through art work such as photography , paintings or even film.

           http://www.pablopicasso.org/images/paintings/guernica3.jpg

           

The Migrant Mother

            When the United States sank into the Great Depression, Dorothea Lange took her surroundings as inspiration for her art work. By doing so Dorothea captured this stunning yet powerful photo of a mother with her seven children. This women seems to be a single mother doing everything she can possible to protect her young but with her worried facial expression it shows us the pure pain and suffering she’s encountering and communicating to us that things will not get better and won’t get better for years to come. It’s heartbreaking to see an image like this because to this very day there are many woman who still are in this type of situation unfortunately.

                       

   

https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-119664cc5ca56e9bdb63350936dd1fa7     

“Many years after Dorothea Lange's iconic 1936 photograph, a reporter asked Florence Owens Thompson about the life she eked out for her family. "We just existed," she said, with no sentimentality. "We survived, let's put it that way." ? (Phelan, 2014)

Guerrilla Girls

The Guerrilla Girls are my personal favorites. These women represent change, movement and power . These women named themselves as the names of dead women artist whose work had gone unnoticed. The Guerrilla Girls are the perfect example of those making a change in society and in the art world. Any one that argues this is completely foolish. These women have given other women strength to fight for what they believe in and to give themselves a place in the art world. Their art has gained the attention of many for the bold, protest style they carry through their work. Their work has been seen in Manhattan, handouts have been made at different events, and billboards have been made as well. These women have been inspirational to young feminist world wide and even some males as well.

http://www.theartstory.org/images20/new_design/bio/bio_guerrilla_girls.jpg

            Artists can agree to disagree but I will always believe that because there is a revolution with materialism , industrialization can be a revolution with art. Art Changes when time changes.

            “Can there be revolutionary art without a revolution?” (Chavoya , 68)

            “ I think it is absolutely necessary to sustain goals irrespective of imminent possibilities. Without a radical argument to expand the spectrum of public debates, the democratic rage of possibilities contracts to an unbearable degree” (Villar 68)