Ms. Geiger
English 11
13 October 2010
Andy Warhol‘s art and its cultural background
When people watch a movie, listen to music, read literature or appreciate a work of art, sometimes the meaning of the work may not be completely understood. A work of art could be a beautiful painting for some people. On the other hand, it may hold little appeal for others. One of the reasons is because they could not understand the cultural background for the piece of art. Since art and culture have a close relationship, it is essential to understand cultural and political background of work of art. Art reflects the period when they were made. Because artists are influenced by society and issues that hold importance to people, and they express beliefs and thoughts on it.
Andy Warhol’s pop art, known for silk-screens of both famous people and everyday objects, could be an example to explain the relationship between art and its background. Pop Art is a 20th century art movement that utilized the imagery and techniques of consumerism and popular culture influenced by mass media, advertising, comics, and consumer products developed in the late1950's as a reaction against Abstract Expressionism and flourished in the 60s and early 70s. Pop Art favored figural imagery and the reproduction of everyday objects. His pieces of pop art were motivated by well-known cultural icons of the 20th century. Beginning of Andy Warhol’s work, the 60s were the age of youth, as 70 million children from the post-war baby boom era became teenagers and young adults. The movement away from the conservative 50s continued and eventually resulted in revolutionary ways of thinking and real change in the cultural fabric of American life. No longer content to be imaged of the generation ahead of them, young people wanted change. The changes affected education, values, lifestyles, laws, and entertainment. Many of the revolutionary ideas which began in the 60s are continuing to evolve today.