Start Date
2-3-2013 9:00 AM
End Date
2-3-2013 9:20 AM
Description
This paper endeavours to examine how the parodic elements of General Idea’s Shut the Fuck Up (1985) serve to highlight both the subtle and explicit ways that cultural discourse and popular media exploit visual artists, with a particular emphasis on General Idea’s stratified approach to the issue. In exposing how the points of intersection outweigh the instances of contrast between the dominant theoretical concerns of General Idea and Yves Klein, it is revealed that their reiteration of Klein’s performance work is, in fact, a delicately wrought homage, and the humorous elements are, indeed, pointing to a greater discursive engagement, often taken up by contemporary artists: institutional critique.
Homage in Blue: General Idea's 'Shut the Fuck Up'
This paper endeavours to examine how the parodic elements of General Idea’s Shut the Fuck Up (1985) serve to highlight both the subtle and explicit ways that cultural discourse and popular media exploit visual artists, with a particular emphasis on General Idea’s stratified approach to the issue. In exposing how the points of intersection outweigh the instances of contrast between the dominant theoretical concerns of General Idea and Yves Klein, it is revealed that their reiteration of Klein’s performance work is, in fact, a delicately wrought homage, and the humorous elements are, indeed, pointing to a greater discursive engagement, often taken up by contemporary artists: institutional critique.
Comments
The conference Good Laugh, Bad Laugh 2013 was phenomenal. It was extremely well-organized, the keynote speakers were incredible, and I am still in touch with other graduate students I met there. Having now attended several conferences, I can say that the group that organized this particular event did an excellent job with every aspect of the three-day enterprise.