***  Haus der Kulturen der Welt: Forum1 Archive  ***
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   [Date]: Sat, 6 Nov 1999 07:39:09 -0800
   [From]: Britta Erickson <britta2@leland.Stanford.EDU>
     [To]: Cultural Exchange via Internet <forum1@hkw.kbx.de>
[Subject]: Internet and art interpretation/globalization

Greetings!

After all the discussion of "Sensation," I find myself thinking of the
function of the internet in this context.  First of all, the internet has
served us well, because many of us did not understand the full story behind
Ofili's work until Olu Oguibe explained some of the details.   Second, the
varying reception of "Sensation" in New York, Berlin, London exemplifies
the fact that works of art will be interpreted in different ways in
different parts of the world.  Maybe the members of this forum are coming
to a consensus on the value and significance of that exhibition, because of
our interaction via the internet, but we are just a drop in the bucket so
far as the world goes.  To me, this is yet another indication that the much
touted "globalization" of culture is still very superficial.

Finally, someone said something about art being successful when the
audience can pick up on the artist's message.  When works are transplanted
and viewed in cultural contexts different from those in which they were
created, it can be extremely difficult for the audience to pick up on the
artist's intended message.  (Unless the artist has a message relevant to
all humanity--love, friendship, family, physical suffering, whatever.)  But
the work of art may still be powerful in the new context.  The new audience
may be able to project a new meaning onto it.  Some artists are OK with
this, others are not.  With works of art from another era, we try to
understand, but can we really hope to?  It is our effort to understand, and
what we manage to get out of a work of art, that can lend it meaning.

--Britta

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Britta Erickson
66 Peter Coutts Circle
Stanford CA  94305
britta2@leland.stanford.edu
Tel/FAX:   650 857-1007
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/art/china/