BEAUTY IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER | Essay Film by Sam Bogstedt

Logline

The subjective views about the world of modern art and its undeniable history, and who we should listen to when it comes to deciding what is good and what is not.

Synopsis

“BEAUTY IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER”

An opinion piece about the opinion on modern art

Modern art, a subject that forces people to share their deep personal opinions. A subject that shares many different views. It’s long history of starting in the late 19th century and developing over time through movements like the post-impressionism, symbolism and Dada movements. These progressed further and forged into the defining movements of the genre Fauvism, Cubism, Expressionism, and Futurism. With names like Picasso, Matisse and Malevich. During WW2 Hitler started banning modern art calling it “Entartete Kunst” (Degenerate art). He would exhibit these progressive pieces next to the royal art that was approved by the Nazi party to demoralize the modern artists. After the war people started changing the method of painting. And artists such as Warhol who started his “blotted line” technique in the 50s, and Jackson Pollock with his “drip technique”. This continues into the 60s, 70s, 80s, with names like Basquait and Banksy.

Following this history we end up with today. The views about modern art are as divided as they have always been. In this essay film I will explore the opposing sides by playing them at the same time. A voice over commentary will express their concerns and critique towards modern art. And why they feel strongly against it and why they think it shouldn’t have the attention it does. This voice over is a resemblance to the media we consume on the internet and the news. Someone speaking over footage telling people what it is or how it should be perceived. On the other hand, at the same time as the voice over there will be subtitles. These subtitles are completely unrelated to the voice over. The subtitles are their own opinion, an opinion that carries much more passion and interest in modern art and speaks about how it has influenced generations and innovations to the history of the form. The subtitles are the written opinions that exist but only come to life when someone takes their time to read them. The only place where the subtitles and voice over agree on is the undeniable history of modern art, but the outcome of that period they again don’t see eye to eye.