The pictures generation

Definition

The Pictures Generation refers to a group of American artists who emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, known for their innovative use of photography, video, and other media to question the nature of representation and the impact of mass media on culture. This generation is characterized by a critical engagement with imagery, often appropriating existing visuals to comment on art, identity, and consumerism in a postmodern context.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Key artists associated with the Pictures Generation include Cindy Sherman, Richard Prince, and Barbara Kruger, each using imagery to explore identity and social commentary.
2. The movement arose as a reaction against the dominance of Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism, marking a shift towards engagement with popular culture.
3. Pictures Generation artists often employed techniques such as re-photography and collage, creating works that blurred the boundaries between high art and mass media.
4. The group emphasized self-reflexivity in their art, using their own bodies or personas to challenge representations of gender and sexuality in media.
5. Their work often critiques consumerism and the pervasive influence of imagery in contemporary life, highlighting how media shapes perceptions of reality.

Review Questions

• How did the Pictures Generation artists use appropriation in their works to challenge existing notions of representation?
  • Artists from the Pictures Generation utilized appropriation as a key strategy to challenge traditional ideas of representation. By taking existing images from popular culture and recontextualizing them within an artistic framework, they highlighted how media influences our understanding of identity, gender, and consumerism. This approach not only questioned originality but also encouraged viewers to critically engage with the images that permeate everyday life.
• In what ways did the emergence of Postmodernism influence the thematic focus of the Pictures Generation?
  • The emergence of Postmodernism significantly influenced the thematic focus of the Pictures Generation by promoting skepticism toward grand narratives and emphasizing fragmented experiences. Artists began to explore themes like identity construction, cultural critique, and the relationship between art and mass media. This shift allowed for a more playful yet critical engagement with imagery, reflecting a broader postmodern concern with representation and meaning.
• Evaluate the impact that the Pictures Generation had on contemporary art practices, particularly regarding identity politics and media representation.
  • The Pictures Generation had a profound impact on contemporary art practices by foregrounding issues related to identity politics and media representation. Their innovative use of appropriation laid the groundwork for future artists to explore how media constructs identity through visual culture. By critically engaging with race, gender, and sexuality, they opened up conversations about representation that continue to resonate today. The legacy of this generation is evident in current artistic practices that challenge societal norms and seek to deconstruct dominant narratives around identity.

Related terms

Appropriation Art: A movement in which artists borrow and recontextualize existing images or objects to create new meanings, challenging traditional notions of originality and authorship.

Postmodernism: An artistic and cultural movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by skepticism toward grand narratives, an emphasis on fragmentation, and the questioning of established norms in art and society.

Conceptual Art: An art form where the idea or concept behind the artwork is more important than the finished product, often challenging viewers to consider the role of language and thought in the creation of art.