Reading 3. ‘Talking Arts as The Spirit Moves Us’ by Bell Hooks
For the four reflective blog posts, I have
- Summarised the experience or resource in question
- Reflected on its relevance and application to your own context
- Specified your next steps in applying the learning
- Signposted to further information through hyperlinks and/or images
- Used Harvard referencing where appropriate
Summary of resource ‘Talking Arts as The Spirit Moves Us’ by Bell Hooks
In the story of this work, bell hooks explores how African American art is recognised and discussed, arguing that mainstream art criticism often marginalises or misinterprets it due to unconscious bias. She highlights the importance of a nuanced and informed approach to evaluating art from minority communities.
Sierra Leone is used as the example in the reading. Unless it’s made in western style it’s not critically acclaimed.
Critic Edward Lucie-Smith’s work ‘Race, Sex, and Gender in Contemporary Art ‘exemplifies how western critics diminish marginalised art, referring to it as reactionary instead of inherently valuable.
Excerpts from the reading by Bell Hooks to support my understanding of the summary of the reading:
‘Art historian and critic Sylvia Ardyn Boone theorizes the aesthetic understandings that shape ideals of beauty in Mende art‘
‘Boone often felt silenced. She felt that her voice could not be heard above the clamour created by better known white peers receiving widespread attention and acclaim. Rarely did these critics call attention to her work. Though we no longer have the opportunity to “hear” her voice speak about art, fortunately we can still read and appreciate her work. Sylvia Ardyn Boone, who was my senior colleague and friend when I caught in the African American Studies department at Yale University, was a brilliant progressive thinker and writer about arc. We had many conversations about the face that arc magazines almost never sought co print her work, that symposiums on art held by foundations and universities did not seek to hear her voice.‘
Reflection
In my roles as a tutor on the Diploma in Professional studies I must challenge mainstream narratives that frame other cultures as being considered only for political or reactionary reasons. I should consider more inclusive and rigorous art criticism, like at Tate in ‘Soul of a Nation’ ‘art in the age of black power.’ We should recognise the intricacies and visual wealth of black artistic expression.
Specified next steps in learning
It affects my consideration of the aims and purposes of my teaching by
enabling me to think about DE&I and how I speak to my students / audience in relation to this topic.
I will recommend students visit relavent cultural exhibitions like the current ‘Mickalene Thomas: All About Love’ at the Hayward gallery, it address the dominant narratives and challenges them through her artwork. By encouraging students to explor and educate themselves on African American art and art from other cultures they can broaden their diverse knowledge and critical thinking.
Links
Links and further reading I found at the Hayward:
The Fire Next Time James Baldwin
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
The Power Elite Mills
Black Power Richard Wright
Alex Haley Roots
Faith in Black Power
Cornel West Democracy Matters
The Autobiography of Medgar Evera
To be Young, Gifted and Black James Baldwin
All about Love Bell Hooks
A Small Place Jamaica Kincaid
See New Then Jamaica Kincaid
Grace Jones I’ll Never Write my Memoirs
What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day
The Colour Purple Alice Walker
Toni Morrison Deliverances
Treize Jours Roxane Gay
You Called and We came Professor Laura Serrant OBE, PhD, Queens Nurse
Mickalene Thomas: All About Love Hayward Gallery
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/mickalene-thomas-all-about-love/
Tate ‘Soul of a Nation’ Art in the age of Black Power’
https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/soul-nation-art-age-black-power
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