Question 1

Describe the imagery of Bill Viola's The Crossing .

Accepted Answer

Bill Viola's The Crossing is a video installation that features a powerful and evocative imagery. The imagery in this piece is characterized by slow-motion sequences that capture the intense emotions and physicality of the human experience. Viola uses water as a central motif, with scenes of individuals submerged or surrounded by water, creating a sense of weightlessness and fluidity. The use of light and shadow adds to the ethereal quality of the imagery, creating a dreamlike and otherworldly atmosphere. The Crossing also incorporates themes of birth, death, and rebirth, with the imagery depicting moments of transition and transformation. Overall, the imagery in The Crossing is deeply contemplative and thought-provoking, inviting viewers to reflect on the universal experiences of life and mortality.

Question 2

Describe the subject of Faith Ringgold's work Who's Afraid of Aunt Jemima?

Accepted Answer

Faith Ringgold's work "Who's Afraid of Aunt Jemima?" is a story quilt that combines image and text to tell the story of Aunt Jemima, a fictional character often associated with the stereotype of the "mammy" figure in Southern United States culture. Created in 1983, this piece is one of Ringgold's most famous works and is a pivotal example of her story quilts, which blend craft and narrative to address social and political issues.

In this quilt, Ringgold reimagines Aunt Jemima, transforming her from a racial stereotype into a successful entrepreneur and matriarch. The work serves as a revisionist narrative that challenges the historical misrepresentation of African American women. Ringgold creates a new story for Aunt Jemima, where she is no longer just a smiling figure on pancake mix boxes but a complex character with a family, a history, and a life full of experiences and achievements.

The quilt features a series of painted images surrounded by quilted borders. The images are accompanied by handwritten text panels that narrate Aunt Jemima's fictional biography. In this reimagined life, Aunt Jemima becomes Jemima Blake, a businesswoman who runs a breakfast restaurant in Harlem, marries, raises a family, and helps her community.

Through "Who's Afraid of Aunt Jemima?," Ringgold addresses the issues of racism, sexism, and the power of storytelling. She uses the quilt as a medium to reclaim and rewrite African American history, giving voice to those who have been historically marginalized and misrepresented. The title itself is a play on Edward Albee's play "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" suggesting a challenge to the fears and taboos associated with African American women's roles in society.

Overall, Ringgold's work is a powerful commentary on the resilience and agency of African American women, offering an alternative narrative that celebrates their contributions and defies the limitations imposed by racial and gender stereotypes.

Question 3

_____ is a feminist artist who used the look advertising in her artworks.

Accepted Answer

A)  Shirin Neshat
B)  Faith Ringgold
C)  Barbara Kruger
D)  Martha Rosler C

Question 4

In her photographs the artist Shirin Neshat often covers her face and body parts in _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  abstract drips
B)  Farsi messages
C)  newspaper clippings
D)  woodcuts

Question 5

The artist _____ challenged traditional paintings by creating paintings with irregularly shaped supports.

Accepted Answer

A)  Maya Lin
B)  Chris Ofili
C)  Elizabeth Murray
D)  El Anatsui

Question 6

How was Elizabeth Murray's approach to painting innovative?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How was Elizabeth Murray's approach to painting...

Question 7

Robert Maplethorpe's court case revolved around the idea of _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  the importance of photography
B)  the income discrepancies of males and females
C)  rights for homosexuals
D)  freedom of expression for artists

Question 8

Martha Rosler's Gladiators places the action of war in _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  an upscale living room
B)  the Colosseum
C)  foreign battlefields
D)  a football stadium

Question 9

Compare and contrast Serra's Tilted Arc and Kapoor's Cloud Gate . Why was public opinion favorable to one and not the other?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast Serra's Tilted Arc and...

Question 10

Discuss the feminist concerns of the female artists presented in this chapter. What message were they trying to communicate? What is the unique approach of each?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the feminist concerns of the female...

Question 11

Frank Gehry referred to form of the Guggenheim Bilbao as a _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  metallic flower
B)  cargo ship
C)  rocket
D)  bird

Question 12

The subjects of Andreas Gursky's enormous color prints come from _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  photos from space
B)  old master paintings
C)  mythology
D)  everyday life

Question 13

Contemporary artists frequently use art to comment on political and social issues. Using examples, identify some of the issues addressed by artists. Consider how they communicate their concerns.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Contemporary artists frequently use art to comment...

Question 14

Discuss the various influences on Jean-Michel Basquiat's style and choice of subject matter.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the various influences on Jean-Michel Basquiat's...

Question 15

_____ is a leader in the field of Green architecture.

Accepted Answer

A)  Frank Gehry
B)  Renzo Piano
C)  Norman Foster
D)  Bill Viola

Question 16

Willie Bester's painting Homage to Steve Biko specifically attacks _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  slavery
B)  apartheid
C)  Wall Street
D)  technology

Question 17

Faith Ringgold used _____ as an artistic medium to reference the domestic sphere.

Accepted Answer

A)  mosaics
B)  fabric
C)  pottery
D)  glitter

Question 18

The long white drips found on Kiki Smith's sculptures refer to _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  bodily fluids
B)  Abstract Expressionism
C)  sand
D)  natural forms

Question 19

Jeff Koons's success in the art world relies on his knowledge of _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  past masters
B)  consumer culture
C)  various artistic techniques
D)  Picasso

Question 20

The title of Matthew Barney's Cremaster series references _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  the human body
B)  classical mythology
C)  British politics
D)  Hindu religious texts

Exam 16: Contemporary Art Worldwide