ART 354 American Pop Art in the 1960's
When Pop Art burst onto the American art scene in the early 1960's, it constituted a profound challenge to prevailing definitions of high culture through its introduction of the imagery and style of mass culture-pin-ups, comic books, advertisements, etc.-into the realm of fine art. In this course we will examine the initial controversy provoked by the movement through an exploration of the work of artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and James Rosenquist, as well as the writings of early critics who attacked-or defended-their work. In order to understand the controversy provoked by the movement, we will also look closely at its historical context. The post-World War II socio-economic boom let to heated debates about the interrelationship of class, taste, and culture; these debates were exacerbated by the emergence of Camp and a youth-oriented mass culture by the mid-1960s. In conclusion we will examine the legacy of Pop: its pioneering of post-modernist themes and artistic practices, as well as its impact on subsequent artistic theory. The class will be taught in a mixed lecture/seminar format: brief lectures will introduce each topic, followed by in-depth discussion of critical readings and works of art.