ARTH 11A Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Enclosure, Landscape Painting, Albert Bierstadt
9 Nov 2017
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Document Summary
The imaginary orient - western view of muslim culture. Wants to view them as beautiful, realist, paintings. Need to pay attention to what is being represented. Critical analysis of the particular power structure in which these works came into being. Oriental world is a world without change, untouched by historical processes. Western power was increasing at the same time. However, the white man or westerner is always present in paintings like the snake charmer. The issues were western man"s power over the near east and the frenchman"s power over women. In the moorish bath, black servant contrasts with the white mistress. What is the function of the picturesque? in orientalist imagery of subject people"s religious practices on of its functions is to mask conflict with the appearance of tranquility. The artists painted war zones as peaceful places. Violence in north africa was rarely depicted by orientalist painting. Mood: realism, disturbing, erotic, mysterious, degrading, voyeuristic, distorted view of arab/culture.
