Detail of 'Vibrating Ugly Children', Matt Borruso
Final discussion
Based on this resource pack, and your own research, discuss the following:
Has your opinion changed on the value of ugliness in art? In what way?
Is ugliness a more powerful tool in art than beauty?
What do you believe is the value of ugliness in art?
Has your opinion changed on the value of ugliness in art? In what way?
Is ugliness a more powerful tool in art than beauty?
What do you believe is the value of ugliness in art?
Final Activities
Choose two artworks from this resource (one contemporary and one historic) and compare and contrast ways in which art elements and, where appropriate, other principles, have been used to produce aesthetic qualities, communicate ideas and develop skills.
Resources and Further Reading
Artists
Egon Schiele: http://www.egon-schiele.net/
Joel Peter Witkin: http://www.edelmangallery.com/witkin.htm
Museum of Bad Art: http://www.museumofbadart.org/
Peter James Field: http://www.peterjamesfield.co.uk/
Tracy Enim: http://www.traceyeminstudio.com/homepage/
Readings
'The Modern Cult of Ugliness', (2009), Roger Scruton, The Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1231948/Why-sordid-art-like-Tracey-Emins-led-cult-ugliness-Britain.html
'The Biological Response to Beauty and Ugliness in Art' [Excerpt from The Age of Insight, (2011) by Eric Kandel]: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=age-of-insight-excerpt
Umberto Ecco. (2007). 'On Ugliness'. Rizolli Publications International: New York
Accompanying lecture - 'On The History of Ugliness' : http://videolectures.net/cd07_eco_thu/
'Why Ugliness in art is attractive', (2008), Jonathan Jones, The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2008/oct/14/art
'Why is ugly beautiful?', K. Curtis, Yale University Art Gallery: http://artgallery.yale.edu/pages/whatisart/what_ugly.php
Egon Schiele: http://www.egon-schiele.net/
Joel Peter Witkin: http://www.edelmangallery.com/witkin.htm
Museum of Bad Art: http://www.museumofbadart.org/
Peter James Field: http://www.peterjamesfield.co.uk/
Tracy Enim: http://www.traceyeminstudio.com/homepage/
Readings
'The Modern Cult of Ugliness', (2009), Roger Scruton, The Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1231948/Why-sordid-art-like-Tracey-Emins-led-cult-ugliness-Britain.html
'The Biological Response to Beauty and Ugliness in Art' [Excerpt from The Age of Insight, (2011) by Eric Kandel]: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=age-of-insight-excerpt
Umberto Ecco. (2007). 'On Ugliness'. Rizolli Publications International: New York
Accompanying lecture - 'On The History of Ugliness' : http://videolectures.net/cd07_eco_thu/
'Why Ugliness in art is attractive', (2008), Jonathan Jones, The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2008/oct/14/art
'Why is ugly beautiful?', K. Curtis, Yale University Art Gallery: http://artgallery.yale.edu/pages/whatisart/what_ugly.php