Art Galleries And Museums example essay topic

Art Galleries and Museums play an important role within the artworld. The artworld can be related to exhibitions, museums, critics, historians, artists, the public, audiences, patrons and collectors. The museum is important as an institution of power, a place of contemplation, entertainment, education and conservation. The museum also acts as an agent of social change and also as a representative of the artists. The establishment of the academy and salons as museums and institutions helped to maintain cultural traditions.

The armory show and artists such as Stieglitz act, among others, as agents of social change. Museums or institutions are of a fundamental importance for educational purposes as well as for providing a place of entertainment and contemplation for audiences. Museums and Galleries function most significantly as places of power and contemplation. Throughout the 18th century, to possess art was seen as a symbol of power and authority. During the French Revolution, however, the private collections' of wealthy French aristocrats were seized. This meant that that power was then transferred from rulers to the people.

The power maintained by galleries and museums can be seen as a result of its legitimation of history and aesthetics. In regards to the museums as a place of contemplation, as an audience, we are conditioned to be reflective and thus view exhibitions, almost as though a religious experience. Society has been socially conditioned by museums to behave in a contemplative and reflective manner when viewing objects in museums and galleries. As a result of their power and authority, the behaviour expected for a church is not dissimilar to that of an art gallery or museum, which is reflective, contemplative and reverent.

The academy is well known as a form of museum / institution and a place of cultural consciousness or a keeper of culture. The academy is a panel of judges who decides which works should be entered into the salon. The Academy tended to prefer paintings that were tradition in style and content and looked to the art of the past as a guideline, rejecting anything that was different or innovative. As evident, the academy held strict rules and guidelines which were followed for over two hundred years. Up until the late 19th century, William Bouguereau, artist of "Virgin and child" (1988), believed in and created works which met the criteria necessary for the academy. Bougeuerau voiced his opposition to "new art" through press releases such as this: " Today people want to get there too quickly, new forms of aesthetics are invented haphazardly, pointillism, piddle ism!" The academy had a very powerful influence on teaching methods, style and choice of subject matter in the art world throughout the 19th century, where they maintained cultural traditions.

Museums or galleries such as the salon and the first impressionist exhibition, acted as agents for social change. During the late 19th century artists such as Manet featured in the salon of the refused. The Salon of the Refused, was a gallery which exhibited contemporary works which did not meet the criteria necessary to gain entrance into the academy. Manet's work "luncheon on the grass" was a very controversial work which gained great criticism from its audience and distaste from critics, such as those of the academy.

The work contained a naked women, lunching with two clothed men and looking directly at the viewer. The first impressionism exhibition opened in 1874 and gained much media and public attention. With artists such as Picasso and Delacroix, the gallery created a riot in the art world. The gallery exhibited new works of individualism and were a complete rejection of the works and styles present in the gallery. The salon of the Refused and the first Impressionist exhibition acted as agents for social change as they displayed works which differed in style to that of traditional art, and therefore reflected the changes in society at this time. The Armory show had a profound impact on Americans when it was first established in the 1880's and became a significant agent of social change.

The art, displayed and exhibited throughout America was like nothing seen before, thus creating curiosity among society. This art was used to influence the public attitudes and values. As opposed to traditional art collections, the armory show was a collector of reactive works and therefore platforms for social change. By the time the armory show had reached Boston, over 400,000 Americans had seen the show and the media coverage was astonishing. There were a significantly large and growing number of museums and galleries which displayed "new and reactive works". These included, the salon des refuses, the first impressionist exhibition, "blockbuster" exhibitions, post impressionist exhibitions and the armory show.

Art in this context is used to influence the publics attitudes and values, and Museums are institutions that are able to change society's beliefs, due to their power and authority. Museum and galleries are fundamental importance in their provision of entertainment and education for its audiences. Museums were originally established to show artifacts that otherwise would have been privately owned, however, in more contemporary times, they are meant as places of study and of display. In regards to education, the academy had a set of strict rules and guidelines for over 200 years which heavily influenced the artworks created during this era. In regards to entertainment, the armory show gained an audience of 70,000 in New York alone, and by the time it had reached Boston, had been viewed by over 400,000 Americans. The reason why this show gained such a large audience, was because of its individual characteristics, being nothing else like it and therefore creating great curiosity among society.

Between 75% and 95% of all visitors to the museum are accompanied by friends proving its function as a form of entertainment. The Armory show was an icon and form of entertainment because of its unusual and bizarre nature. By placing a certain construction on history of the past or more recently, on our own culture and other cultures, museums and galleries are responsible for educating and entertaining all those that attend. In conclusion, Museums and galleries play a significant role in society. Not only do they provide a place of education and entertainment, but they act as agents of social change. Towards the end of the 19th century, there was an evident growth in the number of museums and galleries that displayed works, which were individual and contradictory to the academy guidelines.

The armory show was extremely controversial and popular at the time as were many other exhibitions, which were new and individual in its characteristics. Museums and galleries also act as a venue of power, contemplation and therefore are able to easily influence society. Museums and galleries are important in their actions of maintaining cultural traditions and representing changes in society throughout time. Internet Sites: o web o web o web o web o web o Books: o Gardner, Art through the Ages, tenth edition. CD-Rom: o Microsoft Encarta. Class Notes / references : o Art reader: J. E Vaughan, Defining the museum as a cultural concept. o Visual arts reader Term One, case study number 3: Framing the Museum.