1. 1. “Intertextuality is the shaping of texts' meanings by other texts.”
-Wikipedia. (n.d). Retrieved August 6, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intertextuality
Intertextuality is when you look at a piece of artwork or writing and try relate it to something you are familiar with in order to understand it better. We are constantly doing this and it is most common among critiques. They are continuously comparing how a new artist is trying to replicate a previous well known artist.
2. 2. Wiley takes photographs of young African American men that he sees on the streets and then places them in a scene where they are “depicted in a heroic manner.” He is also continuously trying to portray the idea of masculinity through his contemporary paintings. In his own words Wiley suggests that his paintings “quote historical sources and position young black men within that field of power.” Intertextuality is present in the sense that when we see his work we immediately think of the historic segregated society where it was the “white men” of the world who were in high positions as oppose to “black people.” A time when the so called “black people” were ordered to stand at the back of the bus so “white people” could sit at the front. Also I find that we start to think about how we seem to class young men who dress the way that the man does in this picture to be a “thug” and it is contradictory for him to be an important and powerful man. Not only does Wiley make us think about the historical context but also about today’s society in general.
-Wikipedia. (n.d). Retrieved August 6, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intertextuality
3. Wiley’s work relates to pluralism because he is reminding us that men from a cultural background which isn’t European are just as equal. They are just as powerful and have the same rights because the post-modern belief is that we are all equal. There is no cultural segregation in the post-modern world. Wiley is among the many “visual communicators [who] critically integrate concepts of pluralism” into their artworks to get this message across.
- AUT University. (2011). Academic Literacies in Visual Communications 2: Resource Book. New Zealand, Auckland: Lyceum Press
4. Wiley's work raises questions around social/cultural hierarchies in the sense that he diminishes the hierarchical lines present. He questions why we only see “white men” to be powerful and not “black men.” He reminds us that we have a “black” president which further emphasises that these lines are slowly diminishing for good. He challenges the stereotypical people from our society and makes them realise that we are no longer living in a day and age where the colour of your skin matters. As for the politics which govern a western worldview, well the politically correct would agree that gone are the days where everything was based on your racial background even things such as whether you deserved to live or die. We now accept that there are multiple cultures in today’s world. I think it also relates to colonisation in the sense that other people are also starting to follow and express his way of thinking about “black people” being just as important and powerful. It also relates to globalization as artists are following his lead around the world and placing the same trademark as Wiley is which is pluralism. The idea that we are all equal despite our skin colour.
5. I find that Wiley’s artworks “often blur the boundaries between traditional and contemporary modes of representation.” Just the poses he gets his models to do is so heroic yet historical. It is the type of pose you would expect a Lord to compose for his painter to portray. Yet the colours and backgrounds he uses are so post-modern and appealing to the eye. I also find Wiley to be a very “out-there” artist as he is expressing a questioned idea through his paintings. He really demands second glances from his audience with the ideas he is putting forward. It is unusual that young ‘thuggish looking’ men are portrayed in such a heroic manner which definitely raises some eyebrows. I truly admire his courage and just how brave he is to put forward such a strong idea.
- Wikipedia. (n.d). Retrieved August 6, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kehinde_Wiley
I admire the way in which Wiley depicts the black man. As a leader and someone to look up to and not someone who is degraded. The work speeks allot of truth and realisation. The leader of the free world is black, allot of the people who we are influenced by today are black (rappers, singers etc)so you can see why these pieces are very heroic. One of the many themes that these works all display are equality.
ReplyDeleteI like the way he has drawn from historic portraiture and and combine them into modernism painting.I like the way he use the colours and how he has combined some of the patterns and floral wallpapers that were once well-known amoung the rich of the 17th -18th centuries.
ReplyDeleteWiley's work makes me think about wolrdwide society and espeacially ecucating society;multiple culture,which I find admirable and interesting.I totally agree with what you have said He questions why we only see “white men” to be powerful and not “black men.” it makes me realised that skin colours does not matter but is all about accepting it and how much confident you have.
I enjoyed his work as it is very easy to understand the message.The renaissance backround look very decorative and the contrast of the black muscular male works well in a odd way ,which I find it so fascinating and enchanting.I would like to see more of his work in future.
It's sad thinking back to racial segregation that happened throughout the 1950's, therefore Im glad that Kehinde Wiley is a strong and brave artist who isn't afraid to send out the message that black men are equal to any other race and that everyone should be treated equally. He does remind us about those important african-americans that have made a change in our world and proves that not all 'black men' should be seen as a cliche. Other important African-American include not only president Obama but Blanche Kelso Bruce, Bluford. Guion, George Washington Carver, Shirley Chisholm, Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey Douglass etc.
ReplyDeleteI too enjoy his works as his message is easily and clearly shown, I like the way he has created his work in contemporary style which help's draw in more understanding as we are able to easily figure out what he is referencing his work from such as the Renaissance.
The colours are bold and bright, therefore it catches my attention. I believe that it may be one of the reason's why I enjoy this artist's works.
I admire his courage.I agree your opinion that We now accept that there are multiple cultures in today’s world,and the idea that we are all equal despite our skin colour. Wiley suggests that his paintings “quote historical sources and position young black men within that field of power".For all of his works all around the colour of our skin, his work notice us what is real "equal" in this world.
ReplyDeleteHe posits young black men, fashioned in urban attire, within the field of power to express advocating everyone is equal,and People no different insocial/cultural hierarchies , no colonisation, harmonious globalisation, no stereotypes and the politics which not only govern a western worldview.Kehinde Wiley’s very successful.
Hey Cyndee!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you on question 4 about how he “diminishes the hierarchical lines present”. I think that it is works like these which question very important issues in our societies and cause people to think for themselves, straying away from the common ideologies of the time. For example, when the African-Americans were limited to sitting at the back of buses, individuals like Rosa Parks went against what she was ‘supposed to do’ and disagreed to give up her seat for a Western male. I like your personal response to his work and yeah he seems to be quite an “out there” artist, I mean, who would have attempted to paint hoodlum looking black men in heroic poses surrounded by flowers? None other than Kehinde Wiley, of course.
-This artist Kehinde Wiley is so amazing that the used the style/skill of textuality. And when I see his paintings I can see that he painted black people to give messages to the world
ReplyDeletethat black,asian,white people around the world has the same right to do something that they wants to do and has equal powers. Personally, I like the paintings he drawn form historical portraiture and
mixed with new mordern paintings. It combined well as a old painting. His has got the his own style and the colours as well. He uses strong feeling of colours like red and bright colours like orange
to get attentions to the people .
I find Wiley’s style of painting interesting for their uniqueness in idea and how he incorporates the styles of traditional portraitists and makes them his own. I also like how he interprets ‘the black man’ into his paintings showing a strong statement against racism. His idea of painting these men in heroic poses, such as the Napoleon inspired painting that he does, sends a message to ‘the white people’ that it’s not only the white and rich that can be seen as high class, rich people but also black people, a sense of equality. I myself believe in this firm stand against racism and admire Wiley for it.
ReplyDeleteI agree strongly on how you said by him using a black man in a heroic pose is giving more meaning towards darker people of colour and bringing in the concept of racisim in the past and how in todays society it is alot different and we are all equal, we still have the odd person who disagrees but we are all one. Wiley fights for what he believes in and will display it in a way that gets his message 'strongly' across. Not only the whites are rich and famous but so are people of dark skin.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting how you discuss how Wiley raises issues to do with racial hierarchy. He really does break down the barrier that existed, that black people are lesser that white people. By placing Black men on backgrounds that have drawn inspiration from renaissance art - which was a big aspect of high society in the renaissance period - this makes the point that Black people have just as much potential as White people.
ReplyDelete