Well this class was definitely one for the books. I have to say I was most excited to learn about the 1960s relating to art and culture, but wasn't prepared for the extreme intensity and rule-breaking passion that was behind these artists. It is unfortunate how drug induced the beatnik culture was. Although these mind-altering substances could be said to have played a big part in the creation of artwork that was created by geniuses like Andy Warhol and Yves Klein, it was also what killed most of these brilliant artists and caused them to hurt themselves in ways they wouldn't have otherwise.
I find it truly fascinating the way Andy Warhol made his artwork and the recurring theme that can be find throughout them. His vision of pop culture, media, advertising, and pure consumerism was truly brilliant for that time period. He took these negative societal trends and embraced them to make his art relatable and ground breaking.
Yves Klein's fire paintings were truly magnificent as well. The way he would use the creation of these pieces as performance art was definitely a first for that time period. He displayed the human body in a new and beautiful way, one which had never been done before.
Gilbert and George were extremely comical. I am still a little confused by their perception of art and how it was perceived back then, but I found them to be very innovative and funny.
As for the brief moment we touched on the Vienna Aktionists... I had nightmares. The Otmar Bauer vomit film was disgusting and the idea of a man cutting his penis and bleeding to death on a stage for art baffles my mind. That is way over the edge and breaks a few too many boundaries in my book.
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