Critical Response

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If you want to know all about Andy Warhol just look at the surface of my paintings and films and me, and there I am. There's nothing behind it.

--Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol, Self Portrait, 1986Acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas108 x 108 x 1 ½ in. The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh; Founding Collection, Contribution The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.

Where have you seen a critic’s opinion in a newspaper or on a TV show?

What is a Critic?

A critic is someone who forms and expresses judgments of the merits, faults, value or truth of a matter. A critic gives opinions on things like:

Movies Books Music Food Art

When critics gives their opinion, they not only state likes and dislikes, but also explain why, by including facts and descriptions that support their opinion.

When are you a critic?

We make critical choices everyday about: music, art, fashion and movies.

Informed vs. Uninformed Opinion

Opinion n. 1. A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof: “The world is not run by thought, nor by imagination, but by opinion.” (Elizabeth Drew)

2. A judgment based on special knowledge and given by an expert: a medical opinion.

• Informed Opinion: Possessing, displaying, or based on reliable information: informed sources; an informed opinion.

• Uninformed Opinion: Not having, showing, or making use of information; not informed: uninformed voters; an uninformed decision.

As a critic it is important to differentiate between tastes and biases:

Taste: A personal preference or liking

Bias: a preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits partial judgment.

Identifying music tastes and biases:

Music Group

Identifying art tastes and biases:

When people view works of art for the first time, they create a first response that is intuitive, personal and often purely emotional; based on:

• Personal Experiences

• Feelings

• Associations

• Values

• Likes/Dislikes

How do you respond intuitively to artwork?

After looking at the following two paintings, answer the questions on your handout: Intuitive Response Prompts

Willem de Kooning, Woman VI, 1953oil on canvas, 68½ x 58½ in. Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Gift of G. David Thompson ©2002 The Willem de Kooning Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Andy Warhol, Liz, 1965, polymer paint and silkscreen on canvas, 40 x 40 in. The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh Founding Collection, contribution Dia Center for the Arts

Another way of responding to artwork is through Critical Response, which helps you to organize your thoughts and to make intelligent and educated statements about a work of art. This process is a combination of:

• Description

• Analysis

• Interpretation

• Judgment

Description

• list the adjectives that come to mind

• make observations about what you see

• try to be objective

• avoid statements such as: "I like it" or “This is a really bad work of art.”

Willem de Kooning, Woman VI, 1953

oil on canvas, 68½ x 58½ in. Carnegie Museum of

Art, Pittsburgh, Gift of G. David Thompson ©2002

The Willem de Kooning Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Andy Warhol, Liz, 1965, polymer paint and

silkscreen on canvas, 40 x 40 in.

The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh Founding Collection,

contribution Dia Center for the Arts

Analysis

• express your thoughts about what the message, mood or point of view the artwork expresses.

• explain your thoughts using the:

-Elements of Art: line, shape, color, form, texture, space and value

- Principles of Design: unity, emphasis, balance, variety, proportion, harmony, movement and rhythm

Willem de Kooning, Woman VI, 1953

oil on canvas, 68½ x 58½ in. Carnegie Museum of

Art, Pittsburgh, Gift of G. David Thompson ©2002

The Willem de Kooning Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Andy Warhol, Liz, 1965, polymer paint and

silkscreen on canvas, 40 x 40 in.

The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh Founding Collection,

contribution Dia Center for the Arts

In order to have an informed opinion you must also have rich knowledge about the artwork. Use the handouts to:

• comprehend and analyze the historical and cultural context in which the artworks were made

• the artists’ methods and use of formal principals and conceptual ideas

• the critics who have already published opinions about the work.

Interpretation• ask yourself "What does this work say to me?“

• make guesses and inferences based on your experiences, values and knowledge and understanding of art

Willem de Kooning, Woman VI, 1953oil on canvas, 68½ x 58½ in. Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Gift of G. David Thompson ©2002 The Willem de Kooning Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Andy Warhol, Liz, 1965, polymer paint and silkscreen on canvas, 40 x 40 in. The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh Founding Collection, contribution Dia Center for the Arts

Judgment

• what is your critical judgment (positive or negative) about the work? Support your judgment with informed reasoning.

• is the work of art successful or not?

• Does the work have artistic merit?

Willem de Kooning, Woman VI, 1953oil on canvas, 68½ x 58½ in. Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Gift of G. David Thompson ©2002 The Willem de Kooning Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Andy Warhol, Liz, 1965, polymer paint and silkscreen on canvas, 40 x 40 in. The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh Founding Collection, contribution Dia Center for the Arts

Now you be the critic:

Combining your ideas from your intuitive response, research and analysis write your own

critique or “point of view” about what you think the paintings mean.

Willem de Kooning, Woman VI, 1953

oil on canvas, 68½ x 58½ in. Carnegie Museum of

Art, Pittsburgh, Gift of G. David Thompson ©2002

The Willem de Kooning Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Andy Warhol, Liz, 1965, polymer paint and silkscreen on canvas, 40 x 40 in. The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh Founding Collection, contribution Dia Center for the Arts

Formulating responses to artwork is an important part of enjoying it and the key to

developing critical analysis.