Social Commentary Piece
by Andrea McIver
Project Write Up:
Problem: Create a piece of art that reflects personal interests through social commentary, political statements, etc.
Artist of Study: Banksy
Media: Your Choice
Size: Your Choice
Suggestions:
1. Consider manipulating the surface. You can use pages from a book or magazine. Real pictures you have taken, etc.
2. Select an issue you really care about.
Rubric:
Degree personal interest is conveyed: ___/20
Degree social commentary is used: ___/20
Degree issue is clearly conveyed: ___/30
Degree of technical skill: ___/15
Degree of creativity: ___:15
Total: ___/100
What is Social Commentary?
Visual artwork:
Inspiration for some artists can come from issues that are present today. Deborah Silverman, Professor of History and Art History at the University of California in Los Angeles, states that the "Analysis of particular visual forms expands to an interpretation of art and artists as carriers of cultural history in the crucible of modernity." This notion has been present in art throughout time. An example is Vincent Van Gogh's 1885 painting 'The Potato Eaters'. This picture depicts a group of poverty stricken people gathered in a small room around a table. Vincent Van Gogh created this piece of artwork in order to present a confronting time to the viewer. A modern example is street art, also known as graffiti. With an international reputation, artist and political activist Banksy is known to produce street art that raises public issues such as slave Labour, loss of childhood and the effects of war.
Process:
2. Brainstorm ideas of how to visually convey the issue creatively.
3. Create 4 sketches altering the composition.
4. Select your best sketch and practice with the media you decided on.
5. Map out final.
6. Begin with media of your choice.