Art and Gentrification
When the community of an urban area begins to see familiar buildings being transformed through construction improvements, or older buildings being demolished and new ones taking their place, questions arise on how the community might change as a result.
Those that own their properties have choices; they can sell and move somewhere else, or they can chose to stay.
WHY WOULD THEY SELL/WHY WOULD THEY STAY?
BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY, THE RENTERS?
IS THERE ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO PREVENT BEING MOVED?
WHY WOULD THEY SELL/WHY WOULD THEY STAY?
BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY, THE RENTERS?
IS THERE ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO PREVENT BEING MOVED?
When the first signs of gentrification begin they often start in communities where artists are living.
WHY IS THAT?
Wicker Park was one of the first areas to undergo change in the last construction boom; (Photo's 1975 and 2005)
WHY IS THAT?
Wicker Park was one of the first areas to undergo change in the last construction boom; (Photo's 1975 and 2005)
Wicker Park was an established artistic community.
Pilsen is a relatively new artistic community.
Pilsen will no doubt be the first area targeted by developers in the next round of Chicago residential construction.
In this regard, gentrification follows artists, but today we will look at how gentrification aided in creating this genre of artist.
Pilsen is a relatively new artistic community.
Pilsen will no doubt be the first area targeted by developers in the next round of Chicago residential construction.
In this regard, gentrification follows artists, but today we will look at how gentrification aided in creating this genre of artist.
DOES ANYONE RECOGNIZE THIS FIGURE?
HE SELDOM SOLD ANY WORK, DIED PENNILESS, AND IS GENERALLY BELIEVED TO HAVE HAD PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS.
Why could he not sell his work, when today it sells for millions of dollars?
What might explain his state of mind?
Why could he not sell his work, when today it sells for millions of dollars?
What might explain his state of mind?
AND WHAT ABOUT THIS MAN?
FRANSISCO GOYA (1746-1828) He died 25 years before VanGogh was born. He was far more successful; he was the painter for the Royal Court of Spain. He too suffered from severe bouts of depression, in later life, but is considered the "father of modern art" both for his use of vibrant color...........
.................and his dark subject matter
.
"Saturn devouring his son"
Both artists significantly impacted art, but Goya used the standing he had created for himself to make social commentary on the world around him. During his lifetime Spain controlled a large portion of the Americas, and benefited greatly from the riches, mainly gold and silver, that they had been stealing from the new world for centuries.
The Spanish completely brought to a halt the progression of a highly developed civilization, with its own written and numerical language, that had existed for thousands of years.
In Goyas' Spain, King Carlos III had come to power and set about implementing major reforms, including construction and education programs. Nearly every preceding monarch had squandered Americas plunder. Their ripping apart of the ancient society brought fortunes to only a few. Unfortunately, Spain had left it too late. With revolution occurring in many parts of the world (France, USA, Russia) the liberal thinking of Carlos was curtailed by the elite, under the assumption that people became troublesome when not controlled and kept ignorant. In actuality the traditional dominance of the elite class was being challenged because of growing dissatisfaction with their ever increasing abuse of power. Carlos was ahead of his time.
SO WHAT DID THE CLASS STRUCTURE LOOK LIKE IN EUROPE?
12th century
SO WHAT DID THE CLASS STRUCTURE LOOK LIKE IN EUROPE?
12th century
12th Century- 15th Century (300 yrs) = little change
15th Century- 18th Century (300 yrs) = little change
15th Century- 18th Century (300 yrs) = little change
Goya, an artist at the pinnacle of greatness, was one of the first artists to recognize that he should use his talent to protest injustices.
His realization that the upper classes would never relinquish control of society was in part responsible for his depression.
In England and France artists continue to fulfill the needs of higher society through glorification..........
His realization that the upper classes would never relinquish control of society was in part responsible for his depression.
In England and France artists continue to fulfill the needs of higher society through glorification..........
............but Fransisco Goya is producing images of real life; injured workers and French invaders.
100 YEARS LATER ART CONTINUED TO CHURN OUT PRETTY PICTURES, INCLUDING THOSE OF VAN GOGH.
WHY WAS GOYA'S LEAD NOT FOLLOWED?
19th Century society
Level I has seen no overall change.
Level II has seen additional categories move in to the wealth circle
Level III has split;
white collar and blue collar jobs are created
most peasant lives are still reliant on noblemen and landlords.
The population, which has remained relatively constant for the past 1000 years begins to increase significantly.
WHY WAS GOYA'S LEAD NOT FOLLOWED?
19th Century society
Level I has seen no overall change.
Level II has seen additional categories move in to the wealth circle
Level III has split;
white collar and blue collar jobs are created
most peasant lives are still reliant on noblemen and landlords.
The population, which has remained relatively constant for the past 1000 years begins to increase significantly.
Many rural people pour in to Paris looking for work.
The city grows, with little planning and fewer services. Workers demand more political change, better pay and conditions. There are constant riots. Residents built barricades to slow military retaliation The ruling class decides to rid the city of its perceived problem. |
This is Paris in 2010, and the same street shortly after construction in 1870
“Street of Paris on rainy day”, 1877, Gustave Caillebotte (Art Institute, Chicago)
“Street of Paris on rainy day”, 1877, Gustave Caillebotte (Art Institute, Chicago)
............but this is what it used to look like.........
Hundreds of streets were demolished.........
This is one street that would be built, designed by Baron Hausmann, and approved by Napoleon III
(The thicker black lines indicated where the new street would run through the existing housing)
Some people made fortunes in buying property that they knew ahead of time would not be demolished yet end up adjacent to one of the new boulevards.
(The thicker black lines indicated where the new street would run through the existing housing)
Some people made fortunes in buying property that they knew ahead of time would not be demolished yet end up adjacent to one of the new boulevards.
This is the city today............
These new buildings and streets were build between 1852 and 1870.
(Around the same as the civil war in the U.S., and while Puerto Rico was still under Spanish rule.)
The communities of the poor were broken up, in part because they didn't own the property, in part because they thought physical confrontation would win the day, and in part because they had no political power.
WHAT ELSE DID THE GENTRIFICATION of PARIS CREATE?
Employment -> White/Blue collar -> Leisure time -> Imitation of upper classes.
(Around the same as the civil war in the U.S., and while Puerto Rico was still under Spanish rule.)
The communities of the poor were broken up, in part because they didn't own the property, in part because they thought physical confrontation would win the day, and in part because they had no political power.
WHAT ELSE DID THE GENTRIFICATION of PARIS CREATE?
Employment -> White/Blue collar -> Leisure time -> Imitation of upper classes.
The "noveau riche' wanted to emulate the upper classes.
One of the items missing from their "shopping lists" were original works of art.
Up to this point, art was a rich man’s game.
Artists didn’t do work unless they had a buyer for it, and the buyer would tell them what they wanted.
While the Parisians had something else in mind, artists elsewhere were still painting idyllic images.
The wealthy still liked to think that being a peasant was a pleasant existence under their benevolent guidance.
One of the items missing from their "shopping lists" were original works of art.
Up to this point, art was a rich man’s game.
Artists didn’t do work unless they had a buyer for it, and the buyer would tell them what they wanted.
While the Parisians had something else in mind, artists elsewhere were still painting idyllic images.
The wealthy still liked to think that being a peasant was a pleasant existence under their benevolent guidance.
Like most other cities portrait painting had become big business in Paris, but it still involved commissioning an artist.
Other than this, most families settled for prints to decorate the walls of their homes.
Then the gallery was invented.
Artists could create their own subject matter and hope that it would sell at a gallery.
The starving artist was invented.
It is very important to understand that some artists had a greater chance of success; they had family support, an education, and greater social and business skills.
The Parisians liked to see images of themselves, and they liked them to be pleasant, reflecting their refined lifestyle.
Artists were free to experiment.
Other than this, most families settled for prints to decorate the walls of their homes.
Then the gallery was invented.
Artists could create their own subject matter and hope that it would sell at a gallery.
The starving artist was invented.
It is very important to understand that some artists had a greater chance of success; they had family support, an education, and greater social and business skills.
The Parisians liked to see images of themselves, and they liked them to be pleasant, reflecting their refined lifestyle.
Artists were free to experiment.
The buyers weren't adverse to buying paintings of the lower classes doing work for them...........
Do you like the work of the Impressionists?
VAN GOGH REVISITED
Van Gogh was able to survive because his brother supported him. His brother worked for a gallery in Paris.
Gentrification, not social injustice, was moving art in a different direction. Van Gogh was not however suited to the new world of polite middle-class interaction. Unable to mix with potential clients his work went neglected. Today, buyers of art are willing to overlook eccentricities realizing that the next Van Gogh, and the dollars that come with the artist, might be hidden within the work. |
Impressionist art is still very popular today, but why?
Why did art not follow the lead of GOYA; commenting on social injustice?
Why is Goya less well known than Van Gogh?
Why did art not follow the lead of GOYA; commenting on social injustice?
Why is Goya less well known than Van Gogh?
Quelling the unrest of a population has become more and more sophisticated.
Troops no longer shoot at crowds; at least not in America.......in the past 50 years.
They no longer destroy private property; at least not in America......in the past 20 years.
Troops no longer shoot at crowds; at least not in America.......in the past 50 years.
They no longer destroy private property; at least not in America......in the past 20 years.
WHAT OTHER ELEMENTS PLAY A ROLE IN MAINTAINING A SUBDUED SOCIETY?
IF THE POWERS THAT BE WANT A PEACEFUL SOCIETY WHY IS CRIME ALLOWED TO PERSIST, WHY CAN EDUCATION BE SO DISMAL, AND WHY DOES WEALTH CONTINUE TO BE UNEVENLY DISTRIBUTED; wouldn't these elements create unrest?
While there are many methods that can be utilized to correct the problems, the most immediate and presently most effective way of having some say in society still lies in attempting to own a piece of property.
IF THE POWERS THAT BE WANT A PEACEFUL SOCIETY WHY IS CRIME ALLOWED TO PERSIST, WHY CAN EDUCATION BE SO DISMAL, AND WHY DOES WEALTH CONTINUE TO BE UNEVENLY DISTRIBUTED; wouldn't these elements create unrest?
While there are many methods that can be utilized to correct the problems, the most immediate and presently most effective way of having some say in society still lies in attempting to own a piece of property.
Before we condemn gentrification we need to understand that developers are not always multimillionaires.
In many cases they are ordinary individuals that risk equally losing money as well as making money.
In many cases they are ordinary individuals that risk equally losing money as well as making money.
You have to learn about the world if you want to understand it and makes changes to it.
Did you consider Impressionist art to be so divisive before beginning this lesson?
You have to start here if you want to understand the reason behind your status in life;
Did you consider Impressionist art to be so divisive before beginning this lesson?
You have to start here if you want to understand the reason behind your status in life;
People like this guy (Napoleon III) will always hope that you don't bother, and indeed we can see the barriers being put in place;
High school students are not actively discouraged from dropping out, and college education costs continue to rise.
High school students are not actively discouraged from dropping out, and college education costs continue to rise.
Do you think society is designed to take care of you, or do you think this image is still true today?
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Do you think the "we are the 99%" protestors were talking about the peasants situation of the 15th to 18th century?
Why do you think the middle-class often disassociates itself from those earning less money and those less educated? |
........will you be able to say "I don't have to move"
or will you say "its not fair".
Having money has mostly determined the answer down through time.
Having an education allows for a greater possibility of acquiring money,
whether you intend to fight injustice or just paint pretty pictures.
or will you say "its not fair".
Having money has mostly determined the answer down through time.
Having an education allows for a greater possibility of acquiring money,
whether you intend to fight injustice or just paint pretty pictures.