Art, Culture and Social Issues in Modern Period

ART AND SOCIAL ISSUES IN MODERN ERAArt in all forms can display wealth, power and prestige. Because of the high value of art, it may seem affordable to only an elite class of patrons and collectors. Some works of art, however, were created specifically to appeal to the general populace.Issues and Difficulties in Defining ArtArt objects may lack the qualities long associated with art, such as beauty, skilled craftsmanship, and clear organization.

Conceptual artist Jeff Koons, for example, assembles sculpture from commercially manufactured products such as vacuum cleaners and lawn ornaments. The major difficulty in defining art lies in the fact that art implies value Monetary Social IntellectualSOCIAL PAINTINGEmerged in the 1980sA style that attacked the ills of big-city lifeProves that arts can also be agent of changeIt can readily tackle social and political themes.SOCIAL PAINTINGEmerged in the 1980sA style that attacked the ills of big-city lifeProves that arts can also be agent of changeIt can readily tackle social and political themes.Art has functioned as a voice of culture and transportation to express feelings on the changing conditions of the whole environment.

Artists creatively and safely send messages on social issues Message conveyed by different artworks especially on social issues produce a great influence on the viewers feelings.

Painters use art to voice out their unrest from the injustice they see in the society.

Artworks that Symbolizes Social Issues in the Modern Era

The Third of May,1808 (Francisco Goya) The Third of May , 1808 (Goya)It depicts the battle at Medina del Rio Seco in Spain.

Napoleon's troops marched into Medina del Rio Seco to be met by 21,000 Spanish troops protecting their city. Napoleon's troops lost 1,000 men, while the Spanish lost 3,500. The Third of May , 1808 (Goya)Goya's painting reveals the fear and suffering of the Spanish, while Napoleon's troops show no mercy.

It vividly and bitterly portrayed the brutalities of warChristinas World (Andrew Wyeth)

Christinas World (Wyeth)It insinuated a sense of melancholy and desolation by showing the infinitive space between the subject and the distant houses.

Wyeths usual objects are deserted landscapes and scenes conveying conflicts of solitude.Prometheus, Fresco (Jose Clemente Orozco)

Prometheus (Orozco)It illustrates the starving, suffering masses protesting their oppression from the people in power.

Art is everywhere and art answers mans basic human needs.Some Philippine Artworks That Carried Social IssuesSpoliarium (Juan Luna)

Spoliarium (Luna)Lunas winning entry in 1884 Exposicin Nacional de Bellas ArtesThe painting depicts the bodies of dead gladiators being dragged from a Roman arena. On the left side are spectators, while on the far right is a woman with her back turned to the scene, her back partially uncovered.

Spolarium (Luna)It can be read as an allegory of Spanish oppressive rule in the Philippines.The seated woman beside the dead body of the gladiator may symbolize the Philippines.

Basi Revolt (Esteban Villanueva)

Basi Revolt (Villanueva)Ambaristo RevoltIt was a revolt which started in September 16,1807. It was led by Pedro Mateo and Salarogo Ambaristo and developed in Piddig, Badoc and other towns of Ilocos Norte. Basi Revolt (Villanueva)This revolt is unique as it revolves around the Ilocanos' love for basi ( sugarcane wine) but last but not least for Ilocanos love for freedom .It depicts the victories and death of the rebelsBasi Revolt (Villanueva)The colonial officials were presented physically larger than the powerless Filipino rebels.Bonifacios Monument (Guillermo Tolentino)

Bonifacios Monument (Tolentino)The monument commemorates the most proletarian of all Filipino heroes, Andres Bonifacio.Depicts Filipino Katipuneros enraged by colonial oppression with extreme emotional intensity.Bonifacios Monument (Tolentino)The three steps leading to the monument represents the three centuries of Spanish rule (333 years)The octagonal base with the 8 rays ofthe sun from the Philippine flag symbolizes the eight key provincesBonifacios Monument (Tolentino)The very location of this monument actually depicting the place of the first such encounter by Andrs Bonifacio and the Katipunan with the Spanish colonial army on August 3, 1896.Malumbay si Ina (Pablo Santos)

Malumbay si Ina (Santos)Symbolized the PhilippinesMade during the Martial LawLady of the EDSA Shrine (Virginia Navarro)

Lady of the EDSA Shrine (Navarro)Our Lady of Peace Quasi-ParishIt was built in 1989 in commemoration of the People Power Revolution in 1986.It was built by grateful Filipinos to honor the Virgin Mary for her protection and guidance during the world-renowned, bloodless ouster of the Marcos dictatorship that led to the return of democracy in the Philippines.People Power Monument (Eduardo Castrillo)

People Power Monument (Castrillo)Itis a sculpture of towering people commemorating thePeople Power Revolutionof 1986.It depicts the thousands of Filipinos who gathered in front of the military camps at this main highway of the metropolis in February 1986, to unite in courage and faith to oust a dictator and restore democracy in the Philippines.Untitled (Philippine Flag)- (Bencab)

Sabbath of the Witches (Jaime de Guzman)

Pinoy Worker Abroad (Bencab)

Revolution Evolution Pixelation (Jose Tence Ruiz)

Untitled (Al Manrique)

Favali At Ang Iba Pang Biktima (Anna Fer)

Panangis ni Ina (Pablo Baens Santos)

Krista (Female Christ) (Pablo Baens Sntos)

August 21 (Phyllis Zaballero)