COLLECTION NAME:
Undergraduate Thesis Collection
Record
Title:
The Phenomenological Influence of Materiality: A Formal Analysis of Minimalist Works
Creator:
Dickensheets, Catherine
Subject:
Thesis (B.F.A.) -- Art History
Subject:
Savannah College of Art and Design -- Department of Art History
Rights:
Copyright is retained by the authors or artists of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Abstract:
"Minimalism is often interpreted through a psychoanalytical lens, as viewers are curious and even frustrated about the lack of content and why artists' chose to exclude such content. While psychoanalysis of Minimalist works is appropriate in order to understand how the traumas of the mid to late twentieth century may have influenced artists in America, attaching such analysis to meaning defeats the purpose of the movement. Minimalist artists often produced works that intentionally removed all content that could possibly relate to the real world, creating a sequestered realm of their own, focusing on the appreciation of the formal qualities of art. A psychoanalytical point of view recognizes Minimalism art an escape from twentieth century traumas. However, recognizing causational events and directly associating them to Minimalism inappropriately reattaches the work back to the harsh realities of the twentieth century, ultimately defeating Minimalism's intent. Because of the reasons stated, I will take a formalist approach based in phenomenology rather than emotional examination of select Minimalist artists, avoiding psychoanalysis of the artist, transitioning the internal focus from artist to viewer. By looking at Minimalism through a formal lens that I offer, one may not just sympathize, but empathize with the artists, leading to a true understanding of their phenomenological intentions with the art they created. While contextual knowledge is important for understanding the motivations of the artists in the movement to influence psychological experience through the creation of sculpted environments, attaching cause to effect separates viewer from artist at a fundamental level. Rather than looking at the psychological input to the movement, one must look at the phenomenological output, removing themselves from reality as did the sculptural works of some of the pioneering artists of Minimalism such as Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, and Carl Andre. The focus on form's output influenced other artists more loosely linked to the Minimalist style and its defined foundation such as Robert Irwin, James Turrell, and Roni Horn, who will also be explored in complement to their preceding artists." -- Abstract
Publisher:
Savannah, Georgia: Savannah College of Art and Design
Date:
2021-03
Format:
1 online resource: 1 PDF (Thesis, 77 pages, color illustrations)