I need help on this essay... What do I do???

Question

The question I am trying to answer is:

"Does our cultural background determine, or to any extent, our valuation of a piece of art? Whar effect does our social status have?

I have no idea where to start or how and what to say or argue... Can anyone help me???

Answer 1

Different cultures have different ideas of what consitutes art. Take for example African masks - the Western world collects them as examples of art, where as to say, a Yoruban, on its own a mask is worthless, it is only of use as part of a bigger whole, the whole multi-media performance event it was designed as part of.

Re social status, owning art work is a sign of social status, and if you look at the escalation of prices in the auction houses recently that is refelcted there. It is not people with no social status who are buying.

Re your essay, if it says 'to what extent' then you will get the best marks if you put in some of your own thinking - argue that in some cases it doesn't matter [choose examples] in some cases it does [choose examples] then weigh up and say on which side you place more importance.

Good luck with it.

Answer 2

Start with yes.

Understanding the question helps a lot.

Art is all about culture. What 'the world' tells you is good is regarded as good and the rest is underground...or cult...or...what ever. That is cultural background too.

Look at Bill Cosby's art collection. You could call that black art (no pun intended) By making his choice so obviously culturally determined he influences the entire art world. No I'm not exaggerating.

He opened the door to a whole new world of art collectors and artists. Social aware art collecting...who knew it could be done? I didn't.

Answer 3

Look up a painting called the Holy Virgin Mary by Chris Ofili. It is his own version of Mary in a mixed media peice that in addition to paint actually uses elephant dung. I think this will serve as a good example to you. This peice offends many people particulary in the western world and probably people of high status too. The artist did not intend to offend anyone though. His idea behind the art was to bring together two cultures and religions, that of his African descent and also of the Christianity he was brought up into. If I remember correctly he lived in Great Britian.