Week 4: High and Low

     In 1936 society seemed to be changing for the worse in the eyes of Clement Greenberg. Traditions are being unmaintained or even thought of. Artists are no longer looking at their predecessors to label their art as art. Greenberg suggests that artists are no longer creating art in the traditional manner. They too have rejected themselves from society. Greenberg condemns Alexandrianism for it being a form of manufactured art. It is art that is being made but does not produce anything relevant to the culture. While condemning Alexandrianism he turns his attention to avant-garde art. He proclaims this art is almost the same in not offering something new. But gives avant-garde more praises because it moved society. Avant-garde is art for art's sake because art is on its own terms.

    Through this art movement nonrepresentational art was on the rise. Greenberg said ,“the avant-garde poet or artist tries to effect to imitate God by creating something valid solely on its own terms, in the way nature itself is valid, in the way a landscape – not its picture is aesthetically valid. Trying to make artists equal to God is an absurd attempt on Greenberg's part. All artists are making something through their interpretation of what is aesthetically pleasing. Not just avant-garde artists created images of themselves with only them in mind. Where the imitating God theory falls apart is when art has no objective. But God created for a reason. This is shown in Greenberg's saying, “in turning his attention away from subject matter of common experience, the poet or artist turns it in upon the medium of his craft.” The only tie to God the avant- garde artist have is the willingness to give the viewer free will in what it means to them. God and artists give one person a say in what their creation means, and it only applies to that one person. The opinion of the viewer means nothing to the creator. Because only the creator knows the true meaning. So, avant-garde artists allow free will as a judgment of their paintings. Also, avant-garde artists are forgiving towards their viewer's judgment being wrong. A trait of God. Yet, it does not make artists God. A trait is not the same has being the whole thing. An artist that allows their viewer to have an option in their work is, Vasily Kandinsky. The Blue Rider offered the audience a say is in the artwork. Kandinsky painted this piece but gives others the thought the rider was a child. He never told people weather the idea was right or not. Kandinsky gave them room to formulate their ideas and what the painting has inside of it.

Source

Greenberg, Clement. “Avant-Garde and Kitsch,” 2015. http://sites.uci.edu/form/files/2015/01/Greenberg-Clement-Avant-Garde-and-Kitsch-copy.pdf.