1. Arts, Media, and Sports
Unit 6 part 1

2. Overview What is Art? Media and Culture Sports and Culture
Art and Religion
Locating art
Art and individuality
Representation of art and culture
Art and communication
Art and politics
The cultural transmission of the arts
The artistic career
Continuity and change
Media and Culture
Using the media
Assessing the effects of television
Sports and Culture
Football
What determines international sports success?

3. What is Art? What is art to you? Is art the same to everyone?
Is there a such a thing as a universal standard to art?

4. Art and Religion Art and Religion have similar issues when discussing
Both have definitions of “extraordinary”
Both will distinguish between art and ordinary
If we treat religion in a special way, should we do the same with art?
What makes art different from ordinary?
Jacques Maquet: Something that stimulates and sustains contemplation; compels attention and reflection. Stresses the importance of the object’s form in producing artistic contemplation

5. What is Art?
Art: includes visual arts, literature (written and oral), music, and performance art
Art is sometimes called expressive culture
Dance, music, painting, sculpture, pottery, cloth, stories, drama, comedy, etc.
Many cultures lack a term that can be translated to “art” but all cultures associate an aesthetic pleasure and experience from similar things
Aesthetic: appreciation of qualities perceived in art

6. Art and Religion Art and religion are usually tied together
Art can be displayed in public places making places special – just like religion
What are some other ways art and religion are similar?

7. Art and Placement Is art only art when it’s put in a special place?
We tend to use special critics to tell us what is art and what is not

8. Debate!
Are video games art?

9. Art and the Individual
Should art and the individual be automatically tied?
How important is it for an artist to be given credit for his work?
Many non-western countries focus on social nature and context for art, not the individual
To what extent can a work of art stand apart from its artist?

10. The Work of Art Is art a form of expressive freedom or work?
The word opera is a play on the word opus which means a work
For artists, art is work
Non-state societies, artists must find time for basic survival and art
State societies see artists as specialists
Most are part-time
How much work is art?
When is art completed?

11. Art, Society, and Culture
Art has existed for more than 70,000 years
First cave drawings in Blombos Cave in South Africa
Europe had cave paintings going back about 30,000 years ago
Portable music instruments also show evidence of art and music
Art is for more than the artists – it is evaluated, exhibited, and performed for society
Art is for the spectators and the audience, not just the artist

12. Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology – comparative study of the musics of the world as an aspect of culture and society
Study and analysis of music itself and instruments used to create it
Music as a way to explore culture, determine the role – historic and contemporary – that music plays in society, and the specific cultural features that influence how music is created and performed.

13. Ethnomusicology
In today’s world, musical styles are mixed together into World Music or World Fusion
Music is considered a cultural universal
Musical abilities seem to run in families
Maybe a music gene
Most mothers around the world sing to their children in a similar way

14. Ethnomusicology Music is the most social of the arts
Usually puts people in groups
Folk music – of the people, i.e. the at, music, and lore or ordinary people
Originally came from European peasants
Contrast with the “high” or “elite” culture of European elites

15. Art and Communication
Art is a form of communication between artist and community
There are some intermediaries
Actors translate works an ideas from other artists into performance for the audience to appreciate
Musicians play and sing compositions of other people along with music they have composed
Choreographers use music written by others to plan and direct patterns of dance

16. Art and Politics
What is art’s social role? What extent should art serve society?
Many art that shocks and offends in its time becomes accepted and valued later
Artists are seen as aloof from society, creating art for themselves and elites that makes fun of ordinary people.

17. Art and Communication Art can convey several messages.
It can teach lessons the artist or society wants
Can lead to catharsis – intense emotional release
Most art is meant to create an enduring message
What role does the artist’s intent play in a work of art?

18. The Cultural Transition of the Arts
Appreciation of art depends on cultural background
Art is part of enculturation as well as formal education
What is aesthetically pleasing is based on culture
Different cultures begin their teaching of the arts at different ages

19. The Artistic Career
In some societies children are born into family lines that require art as a career
Other societies view art as a calling
They discover they have a certain talent
Artists must have some kind of support in order to succeed
Family or other patrons
Arts are considered neither practical nor ordinary, relying on talent

20. Continuity and Change Art changes over time and some stay the same
Some art survives (Greek plays and cave paintings) while other goes away
The idea of traditional vs. change
Combinations from different cultures

21. Media and Culture
Mass culture (also called popular culture) spreads much quicker than before
Give a framework of common experiences to a culture
Media messages can be analyzed for their nature, symbolism, and effects

22. Media and Culture
Media consumers select, evaluate, and interpret media in way that make sense to them
Popular culture can be used to express discontent and resistance by groups who feel powerless or oppressed
Parents will pick messages that reinforce their own opinions and life choices
Media gives connection to a wider world – real or imaginary

23. Sports and Culture How do sports and media reflect culture?
How does sports and media influence culture?

24. (American) Football Huge spectator sport with millions of fans
Popularity based on mass media, especially television
Is football popular because Americans are violent?
No…just a popular American past time
Features key aspects of American life
Teamwork
Based on specialization and division of labor
Sports travel well across countries
Baseball popular in Japan

25. What Determines International Sports Success?
Why do certain countries excel at sports?
Cultural values, social forces, and the media influence international sports success
Media can heighten interest in all kinds of sports
In US, Super Bowl is a national event.
The Olympics get extensive coverage
The World Cup is the only sports event that consistently draws huge national audiences in Brazil

26. Brazil vs. US
In Brazil, outstanding athletes represent Brazilians the same way Congress represents the US
A win by a Brazilian team or individual is thought to brig respect to the whole nation
The media is very intolerant of losers
Brazil has fewer athletes than US so a single one has to summarize the entire country’s hopes

27. Being vs. Doing
Some factors that contribute to sports success is ascribed or achieved status
Can’t do much about ascribed status, you can change achieved status
In US, success comes through achievement – what you do
In Brazil, it comes from being, not doing
Identity rests on where you are from (social class) and extended family
Rules are not uniform across social classes
Victories and sports are for the privileged few