Posts tagged Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Nudity and Exploding Cars in China and Seattle
Jan 8th
A couple Chinese artworks I saw on display at the Seattle Art Museum during the summer of 2007 struck me so much that not only did I recognize them when I read about them online here, I remember exactly where they are in the Seattle Art Museum and my reactions to them upon my first view.
Remember those firework footprints in the
Zhuanghuan is one of the most brilliant yet depressing artists I know, likely owing to when he grew up in
Female Celebrity as Art Subject Matter
Nov 1st
The news that Britney Spears has psychiatric problems too severe for her to control her own finances or take a witness stand shook me. I wouldn’t call myself a fan, but because her career has coincided with my coming-of-age years, she is a symbol to me of all female celebrity. This got me thinking about celebrity and feminism in general, specifically as it relates to art with these women as subject matter.
My favorite television show and one of my four favorite art organizations both draw inspiration from Britney Spears. The South Park episode “Britney’s New Look” makes the grim case that Britney Spears was chosen at a young age as a sacrificial beautiful woman to be eventually driven crazy by a society obsessed with her. View the episode here. For Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater‘s 2007-2008 rendition of “Flowers“, which I saw last March, the prima ballerina based her character on Britney Spears. Alvin Ailey choreographed the ballet immediately after the death of Janis Joplin, who some view as another sacrificed female icon. You can listen to comments from within the dance company here.
Another interesting case study is “Paris 2008“, Jonathan Yeo‘s portrait of Paris Hilton that is a collage of pornographic magazine clippings. Damien Hirst bought the work, and Yeo offered to share the proceeds with Hilton because he thinks its unfair that she never received money for her infamous sex tape. You can also note that the artist made a portrait of President Bush out of the same media first.
Do Yeo’s actions regarding “Paris 2008″ empower women or degrade them? Are these women ridiculed as sluts and idiots because it’s somehow more okay to attach those labels to women than men? Does it take slutty and irresponsible behavior for women to become superstars in United States pop culture? These are questions I don’t have the answers to but fine art attempts to address.
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