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 use of appropriation and questioning of authorship in art. These artists often borrowed imagery from popular culture, mass media, and historical sources, challenging traditional notions of originality and the role of the artist. By recontextualizing existing images, they sparked conversations about representation, identity, and the nature of art itself.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Key artists associated with The Pictures Generation include Cindy Sherman, Richard Prince, and Barbara Kruger, who often used photography and collage techniques.
2. The movement emerged as a response to the commercialization of culture and the saturation of imagery in media, reflecting on how these influences shape perception.
3. By using familiar images, these artists emphasized how context affects meaning, prompting viewers to question their assumptions about art and reality.
4. The Pictures Generation played a critical role in the development of postmodern art by blurring the lines between high and low culture.
5. This generation's work often critiques consumerism and explores themes of identity, gender, and sexuality through visual storytelling.

Review Questions

• How did The Pictures Generation challenge traditional views of authorship in art?
  • The Pictures Generation challenged traditional views of authorship by utilizing appropriation techniques that borrowed existing images from mass media and popular culture. By doing so, these artists questioned the idea of originality and the singularity of artistic creation. This shift prompted audiences to reconsider who holds authority over an image's meaning and how context alters our understanding of art.
• Discuss the significance of appropriation in The Pictures Generation's critique of consumer culture.
  • Appropriation played a significant role in The Pictures Generation's critique of consumer culture by highlighting how mass media shapes perceptions and influences identity. By recontextualizing commercial imagery, these artists exposed the commodification inherent in visual culture. This approach forced viewers to confront how consumerism permeates daily life and influences social narratives around identity, sexuality, and gender.
• Evaluate the impact of The Pictures Generation on contemporary discussions surrounding identity politics in art.
  • The Pictures Generation has had a lasting impact on contemporary discussions around identity politics in art by foregrounding issues related to representation, gender roles, and cultural stereotypes. Their work opened up conversations about how personal identities are constructed through media imagery and societal expectations. As artists continue to engage with themes of appropriation and representation today, they build upon the foundational ideas introduced by The Pictures Generation, making it relevant to ongoing debates about authenticity and the complexities of identity in a mediated world.

Related terms

Appropriation Art: A movement where artists use pre-existing objects or images to create new works, raising questions about ownership and originality.

Postmodernism:

An artistic and cultural movement characterized by skepticism towards grand narratives and an emphasis on irony and playfulness in art.

Authorship: The concept related to who creates a work of art and the implications of that identity on the interpretation and value of the artwork.