20th- 21st Century Modern Art Discussion

Our last major discussion is dedicated to diversity in 20th-21st Century Art. During this 20th- 21st Century Modern Art Discussion, we have explored the Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic, Neoclassical, and 20th-21st Century Art styles. The Renaissance originated in a relatively small region of Western Europe—Italy—and was accessible to the aristocracy and the ultra-wealthy. The Baroque style was mainly inspired and sponsored by the Catholic Church, which gave the world masterpieces by Caravaggio and Rembrandt. The era dominated by Romantic and Neoclassical aesthetics was partly inspired by sentiments of the Industrial Revolution and rejection of such, respectively, so the thematic subjects in this era were more down-to-earth than the ones preceding them.

However, until the end of the 19th Century, art was commissioned and dominated by the so-called “elite.” This situation dramatically changed at the turn of the 20th Century, in which the explosion of different styles and the appearance of artists from various backgrounds and demographics was celebrated. For instance, Pop Art (also discussed in the Case 4 assignment) instantly appealed to and became accessible to the large masses beyond the circle of the traditional art connoisseur.

In this 20th- 21st Century Modern Art Discussion, I want to hear your view on diversity and self-expression in contemporary art. Choose one artwork that symbolizes, in your opinion, the diversity of 20th-21st Century art.

Provide an argument supporting your choice by discussing one or more of the following: style, origins, thematic elements, or the background of its creator.

Discuss how the work appeals to different populations and/or represents different layers of society.

You may want to start by considering works by Banksy, Frida Kahlo, or members of the Harlem Renaissance movement, among many others.