Video Review

Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the '50s and '60s
I chose this film because I like the style of abstract expressionism and was interested in learning more about the style. The video discusses why there was a shift from abstract expressionism to pop art and the many artists that were part of both influences. Abstract expressionism consumed artists such as Franz Kline, Helen Frankenthaler, Willem De Koonig, and  Jasper Johns. This style was eventually rejected and Pop art became the new sensation in the 1960's. Andy Warhol is the most famous artist of this movement and also lead the way. Not long after Robert Rauschenber hits the scene, competing with Warhol. Lichtenstein is another famous artist of the era. All of these artists are described in the text as well, just in less detail. This video gives a more in depth understanding of the roles that these artists had in the change from expressionism to pop art and what factors influenced it.

Andy Warhol: Images of an Image
This video caught my attention because Andy Warhol is such a famous artist whose art has been admired for decades. I specifically like his many Marilyn Monroe portraits that have been so influential in keeping her status alive long after her death. The video discusses the artistic rising of Warhol in his path to fame. He was infatuated with Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe and found that he could make a fancy fortune off of the work. He began creating silk screen pieces as well that could be reproduced over and over. He creates portraits of his friends and himself as well and even want on to make many, many films. His works have many political themes as well. Warhol is discussed in the text as well, but the video describes his business ambition more so. 


The Art of Henry Moore
I selected this video because I have heard about Henry Moore before and wanted to reconnect with his artwork. The text does not discuss this artist. The film goes on to discuss his early life and how he was inspired by art at a young age and he followed his dream to art school. Moore became invested in sculpture with many differing themes such as mother and child, abstraction, beauty, the human body, war, religion and many more. later in his career he paid attention to drawing as well. Many of his sculptures are discussed in the film as well. His sculptures are not only one piece, but two and three pieces as well. 

Uncertainty: Modernity and Art
This video breaks down the difference in modern art from earlier generations of art. It categorizes modern art as being uncertain, reflecting the changing times that the industrial revolution brought about. Modern art is widespread in genre, to respond to the many different lifestyles made possible by technological advances of the 20th century. Political groups such as the Nazi regime rejected this style of art because it was not ideal and lacked certainty. Abstraction was very popular in this generation, starting with the influence of Picasso. The video discusses other important artists of the movement, Paul Klee, Piet Mondrian, Jackson Pollock, William De Kooning and Mark Rothko. Materialism is a strong influencer of modern art that is still strong today. Pop art is a style that leaves people in awe and one of it's leaders, Andy Warhol, is a big part of the phenomenon. As I mentioned, many of these artists are also described in the text. However, the film discussed a lot of the political influence that these artists had and how modern art was shaped by major events of the 20th century.