For this last written assignment, please pick one topic to write about from those below. 

Topic #1: Art Selfies

For this topic, you’ll research the rise of art works and art exhibitions that seem to be designed (and maybe even best viewed) to share on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.

• In 300 words (ok to go over if needed):
  • First summarize what the trend is and explain your position: do you think it’s a bad thing? Is it a good thing and gets more people into museums and to see art? Is seeing art through your phone distracting? Have artists or museums changed their approach because of this? Are places like the museum of illusions, ice cream, selfies, etc. ‘real’ museums or something else?
  • Then explain one or two examples of either artworks or exhibitions that seem to cater to selfies and sharing on social media
  • Make sure to embed an image or two to help make your point & include the artwork information 
  • Make sure to include links to your sources and use in-text citations for anything you directly quote or paraphrase.

Here are some articles to get you started but there are many more out there on this topic:

• https://www.wmagazine.com/story/yayoi-kusama-museum-of-ice-cream-art-selfie-peak 
• https://www.wired.com/story/selfie-factories-instagram-museum/ 
• https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/02/instagram-art-wonder-renwick-rain-room/463173/
• https://www.washingtonian.com/2017/02/28/in-defense-of-instagramming-art-exhibits/
• http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cam-instagram-art-3-lessons-from-lacma-rain-room-20151201-htmlstory.html 
• https://news.artnet.com/art-world/6-popular-art-exhibitions-instagram-ever-324959

Topic #2: Street Art & Graffiti

For this topic, you’ll write about the popularity of street art and graffiti.

• In 300 words (ok to go over if needed):
  • First summarize why you think street art and graffiti has become more popular over the last few years. Question to think about include: How has it gone from something that was seen as an indicator of urban blight, crime, etc. to something that shows vibrancy and creativity? Does it have to do with public policy (it’s more legal) or increased visibility with phones and social media or greater public acceptance? Can street art and graffiti have the same impact if it is legal or does it have to be illegal to be effective? Can you put street art or graffiti in a museum or sell it in a gallery or does this negate it’s purpose? What is the role of political street art like those by Banksy or those connected to Black Lives Matter we’ve seen painted directly on streets?
  • Then explain one or two examples of street art or graffiti that support your point of view.
  • Make sure to embed an image or two to help make your point & include the artwork information 
  • Make sure to include links to your sources and use in-text citations for anything you directly quote or paraphrase.

Here are some articles to get you started but there are many more out there on this topic:

• http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/03/living/ireport-street-art-public-art/index.html 
• https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2013/11/10/how-did-graffiti-become-respectable
• https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/as-street-art-grows-more-popular-is-it-losing-its-edge 
• https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/instagram-famous-art-mural-los-angeles 
• http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-business-of-street-art-20171013-story.html 
• https://www.widewalls.ch/20th-century-the-rise-of-graffiti/
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/06/08/george-floyd-black-lives-matter-street-paintings/5323194002/ (Links to an external site.)
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2020/06/16/black-lives-matter-murals-color-streets-across-the-country-photos/#6e5a7dbb7c03 (Links to an external site.)

Topic #3: Art and Corporations 

For this topic, you’ll write about the rise of corporate collaborations with fine artists. These kinds of partnerships are very popular and while have existed for over a century in the US, but have boomed over the last 20 years. Examples of partnerships can range from clothing lines like Puma and Kehinde Wiley or Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami or Jeff Koons to food and drinks like Absolut Vodak’s bottles or Perrier and Andy Warhol to even cars like BMW’s Art Cars. The looming question is ‘Why?’

• In 300 words (ok to go over if needed):
  • Pick one or two examples of corporate partnerships or collaborations with fine artists (so no musicians, sorry) and first explain what the collaboration was.
  • Then explain why you think the corporation picked that artist to partner with? What was it about that particular artist that they wanted to reflect in their collaboration? What products did they collaborate on and does that make a difference? 
  • Make sure to embed an image or two to help make your point & include the artwork information 
  • Make sure to include links to your sources and use in-text citations for anything you directly quote or paraphrase.

Here are some articles to get you started:

• http://us.louisvuitton.com/eng-us/stories/masterscampaign2#story  (Links to an external site.)
• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bmws-art-cars-a-blend-of-art-and-speed/ (Links to an external site.)
• https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-georgia-okeeffe-hawaii-paint-pineapples-dole (Links to an external site.)
• http://kehindewiley.com/projects/puma/ (Links to an external site.)
• https://www.artspace.com/magazine/art_101/art_market/art_101_art_and_fashion_collaborations-5804