20th Century Modern Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

20th Century Modern Art - Essay Example Kandinsky was an artist whose concepts played a crucial role in developing Abstract Expressionism. The Surrealist idea of the unconscious and Freudian imagery gained popularity among the artists simultaneously, and Abstract Expressionists, especially Jackson Pollock developed the desire to express the unconscious. He was brought up in Arizona and then in Chico, California. During the 1950s, Abstract Expressionism reached its peak. Employing the Automatism technique (from Surrealism, where the artist was to paint without fully controlling his body, thus unlocking the unconscious) which led to his â€Å"drip paintings† later known as â€Å"action painting†, Using household paints instead of artist’s paints, and sticks and other tools as paint applicators, with his canvases laid on the floor, Pollock brought a revolution to this art form. He allowed people to come and watch him while he created masterpieces: moving around the canvas, dripping paint at different angl es; he seemed engaged in a dance. In 1938, he underwent a psychiatric treatment for his alcoholism and worked with two Jungian analysts. After this extremely influential experience, he began exploring his own unconscious symbolism, the result of which is visible in his work Male and Female which shows freely poured pigment for the first time. The brilliance in the poured paintings that he began from 1947 was that he chose numbers for their titles, widening the viewers’ scope by giving them freedom of interpretation, which he thought was limited otherwise. At the age of 44, Pollock passed away in a car accident; he was driving under the influence of alcohol. Pollock’s One (Number 31) is one of his abstract works that he painted using the ‘drip technique’. The canvas is covered with long patchy, free flowing irregular lines; the color scheme is very subtle, consisting of only black, blue, grey, brown and white on an off white background; the beauty of Abstra ct Expressionism is that it does not make a statement of it own, rather it invokes the observer’s subconscious, allowing them to interpret it the way they see it and how it makes them feel (Lanchner & Pollock, 32). However, keeping in mind the post world war era it was created in, one can imagine the chaos and pandemonium of that time and relate to it; it makes one wonder what it must have been like to live amidst all the destruction and bloodshed. On a closer look, one might feel like the black strokes represent moving, perhaps dancing or falling(after being shot, maybe?) stick men like figures; or figures who are trying to run away from the brown, blue, white and grey(the war, maybe, trying to save themselves?). Also, each color might have a meaning of its own: for instance, the brown(earth or ground), the white(people’s tears), the black(arms and ammunition). It is a good thing it does not have a decipherable image(s) with definite meaning. It is a thought provocati ve piece of art, and it leaves one with no doubt as to why the art critic, Clement Greenberg wrote, â€Å"and I knew Jackson was the greatest painter this country had producedâ€Å" about Pollock,who played a great role in expressing the then deplorable social and political conditions of America, and diverting people’s attention from them, hence providing an escape from reality. Abstract Expressionism had become so influential by the second world war that the amateur artists imitated the style as it was, thus lacking originality and innovation, deterring the general public from connecting with it. In the 1950s, a bunch of approaching artists, began defying the norm, using imagery relatable by the general public. That is when advertising started making consumer items like Coca-Cola into household names in America. the American culture was heavily

Litterature Review and bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Litterature Review and bibliography - Essay Example se, extreme changes in the room temperature including other ergonomic-related problems that may lead to the development of different types of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) like the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome among others. (Buckle & Hoffman, 1994) Other factors such as physical stress related to illness or hormonal changes as well as emotional stress related to grievance due to the death or loss of a special someone may also increase stress at work. For the purpose this study, the researcher will gather peer-reviewed journals related to the probable causes of work-related stress and its impact over well-being of employees. To give the readers a better understanding of some medical terms used in the study, the researcher will provide the definition of words. For the literature review, the researcher will first discuss all the probable causes of work-related stress followed by repetitive strain injury, carpal tunnel syndrome and other work-related injuries. Since ergonomics study the impact of working environment in relation to stress and physical injuries related to the working conditions, the researcher will discuss the role of ergonomic analysts. Eventually, the negative health effects of work-related stress will be provided in order to give the readers a better understanding why health care practitioners should focus on preventing stress from work. Ergonomics – a scientific-based study that teaches the proper design of working environment and systems in relation to increasing the efficiency and quality of employees’ work performance. (International Ergonomics Association, 2008) Repetitive Strain Injury – also known as chronic upper-limb musculoskeletal disorders or cumulative trauma disorders are work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) which is often associated with repetitive poor body postures. (Stock, 1991; Ranney, Wells, & Moore, 1995) In gathering concrete evidences with regards to the major causes of work-related stress causing physical