Shock & satire
~Social Commentary
CARNE HUMANA - AnimaNaturalis
TO DO:
- Explore Carne Humana by looking at the image and reading the info below.
- Complete the survey under the image.
- With your group, discuss your PERSONAL RESPONSE to the shocking nature of this piece.
- Things to consider:
- was this artwork effective?
- could AnimaNaturalis have gotten its message across in a less shocking way? Should it have done so?
- what do you think about the results from the survey?
On May 23, 2016, animal rights activists from the group AnimaNaturalis in Barcelona, Spain stepped into polystyrene trays and were covered with plastic sheets that bore labels that said, "Carne Humana" Human Meat. In 2013, Barcelona was the first city in the world to declare itself a "vegan-friendly" city. AnimaNaturalis said they staged the performance art piece here because they wanted the city to realize that "their pledge should mean actions not just words." This is the third time this performance has been conducted: 2010-New York City, PETA organized the first demonstration with signs that read "Meat is Murder;" 2013-Barcelona, Animal Equity celebrated the city's declaration of vegan-friendly by trying to raise awareness of "the cruelty animals face prior to slaughter."
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WEST BY EAST - Shadi Ghadirian
TO DO:
- Explore West By East by looking at the images and reading the info below.
- Complete the survey.
- With your group, discuss your OPINION of the meaning of the artwork and the issue addressed.
- Things to consider:
- activate your PRIOR KNOWLEDGE - we studied Islam in the last unit. We discussed the difference between Muslim and Islamist. Use these terms and what you learned when forming your ideas about this piece. Do you think this artwork can be categorized as "Muslim" or is it "Islamist?"
- what do you think about the results of the survey? Did anything surprise you?
Shadi was born in 1974 Iran. Why is this important? Prior to 1974, Iran was a nation that embraced the culture of the West. After the Iranian Revolution, Sharia law was enforced - this means that women now need to wear head scarves or the hijab to cover their limbs and hair. "Shadi was very young when the revolution happened, so all she knows is scarves,” said Rose Issa, an Iranian art critic. "Women with scarves.” Shadi says, “I grew up with the hijab and, you know, we have special fashions for this. It’s no problem for me. Maybe it is for my mother, she didn’t have a hijab before the revolution and now she suddenly has to wear it, it’s a problem. But for me that I grew up with this, it’s no difference. I believe that in the life of the new generation in Iran we have the traditional things and we have the modernism. If something is traditional and it’s good for us, we accept it. And if something is modern and good for us we accept it. It’s a mixture. Sometimes we have these two together. Especially in our new generation you can see in their life they can’t choose if they want to live as a traditional family or they want to live as a modern family. They want to mix these two together. Sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s not good. This is the story that I wanted to tell.”
In her exhibit, West by East, Shadi Ghadirian took photos of herself in poses like western models in fashion magazines. She then took a marker and "covered" the skin and hair of the "models."
In her exhibit, West by East, Shadi Ghadirian took photos of herself in poses like western models in fashion magazines. She then took a marker and "covered" the skin and hair of the "models."
POLITICAL CARTOONS - Various Artists
TO DO:
- Explore the political cartoons about gun control in the United Stated by looking at the images and reading the info below.
- Complete the survey.
- With your group, discuss your PERSONAL RESPONSE.
- Things to consider:
- Does your personal opinion of the issue bias your viewing of the artwork? Does it matter?
- How, as an artist, might you overcome the bias of your audience?
Political cartoons are one of the oldest forms of Social Commentary art. Ben Franklin's "Join or Die" snake absolutely changed the course of America's history not just ONCE but TWICE!