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 approaches to photography, video, and appropriated imagery. This movement critically explored themes of media saturation, representation, and consumer culture through the use of pastiche and appropriation, often blurring the lines between original and copied works.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Artists like Cindy Sherman, Richard Prince, and Barbara Kruger were prominent figures within The Pictures Generation, using their works to comment on identity and mass media.
2. The movement is characterized by the use of photography as a means to create layered narratives that critique popular culture.
3. Many artworks from The Pictures Generation repurpose familiar images from advertising, film, and television, making viewers question the authenticity of visual representation.
4. This generation rejected the notion of the artist as an isolated genius, instead embracing collaboration and collective practices to create art.
5. The Pictures Generation played a crucial role in shaping contemporary art discussions around feminism, identity politics, and consumerism.

Review Questions

• How did The Pictures Generation utilize pastiche in their artworks to comment on culture?
  • The Pictures Generation used pastiche by imitating and reworking images from popular media, advertisements, and art history. This technique allowed artists to critique cultural norms by creating layered meanings and highlighting contradictions within visual representation. By blending different styles and references, they exposed how deeply embedded media is in shaping identities and perceptions.
• In what ways did appropriation art challenge traditional concepts of authorship within The Pictures Generation?
  • Appropriation art within The Pictures Generation questioned the very idea of originality by showcasing how artists borrowed existing images to create new meanings. By taking familiar visuals out of their original context, artists like Richard Prince blurred the lines between creator and consumer. This practice forced viewers to reconsider the value placed on authorship and originality in a media-saturated society.
• Evaluate the impact of The Pictures Generation on contemporary discussions about media influence and identity in art today.
  • The Pictures Generation significantly influenced contemporary art by laying the groundwork for discussions about media's role in shaping identity. Their critiques of consumer culture and representation continue to resonate in today's digital landscape, where images are constantly shared and manipulated. This movement challenged artists to engage with issues like authenticity, power dynamics in representation, and the impact of technology on self-perception, making it an enduring reference point for contemporary artists grappling with similar themes.

Related terms

Pastiche: A work of art that imitates the style of another artist or period, often as a way to celebrate or critique the original.

Appropriation Art: A practice in which artists borrow or recontextualize pre-existing images or objects, challenging notions of originality and authorship.

Media Saturation: The overwhelming presence of media in contemporary society, where images and information are constantly disseminated and consumed.