Art and Identity Response

What I took as Linda Nochlins' answer to "Why have there been no great women artists?" is the idea of Nature vs. Nurture. It is not a born, genius essence that will automatically surge an artist into greatness, rather the advantageous, social environment that one is subject to or subjects themselves to. Yes the genius nugget probably should be there too for greatness to be recognized. It was not in the social cards, however, for women or minorities to prosper in the arts even if they had the talent up until the twenty first century. The recognition is not something that emerges out of nowhere. Stars need to line up in order for greatness to be recognized, or the social order and allowance for this to happen needed to change.

I think there is a strong sense of realism in the work of social minorities, which I'm more drawn to than the humorous mockery art. Cultures are defining the truths of today in our present day social atmosphere of the "outsiders".

Heartney writes "such works reveal the way in which racism, poverty and social and personal dysfunction combine to define and limit the lives outside the 'mainstream culture'."

Does this statement also define our mainstream culture as functional? I think there is a strong essence of dysfunction in the identity of mainstream culture that globally we are only now becoming conscious of.

Pepon Osorio "Badge of Honor" detail 1995

Carl Pope "Silent Wishes, Unconscious Prayers and Dreams...Fullfilled" 1996

Carl Pope interviewed family and friends of several Hartford young people who had died early, often a result of violence. These Portland brownstone slabs are etched with the words of the deceased as remembered by those close to them. Pope's feelings that the young people in some way anticipated their early deaths is reflected in the quotes on the stones. The project was installed in 1996 and is still up at 128 Albany Avenue in the Clay Hill neighborhood.Carl Pope interviewed family and friends of several Hartford young people who had died early, often a result of violence. These Portland brownstone slabs are etched with the words of the deceased as remembered by those close to them. Pope's feelings that the young people in some way anticipated their early deaths is reflected in the quotes on the stones. The project was installed in 1996 and is still up at 128 Albany Avenue in the Clay Hill neighborhood.

text from: http://www.realartways.org/archive/carlPope/silentWishes/Pope.htm