Besides changing the form and view of fine arts, media culture has redefined the audience of fine art and enabled budding artists to unleash their creativity. This article views the impact of media culture on fine arts and the views of various professionals.

Who are These Professionals?

We sampled four professionals with vast exposure in either field for a better glance into the relationship between fine arts and media culture. Our research entails the views of Lee Rainee, Sandra Arnold, Daron Fogelson, and Eyal Gever.

Rainee is the director of internet and technological research for the Pew Research Center. Their publication (Impact of Mass Media on Fine Arts) with Kristin Thomson and Kristen Purcell outlines the benefits and threats posed by mass media to the fine arts industry.

Doron is the vice president for media and entertainment practice at dataart.com and has vast software development and business analysis exposure. Eyal Gever is an Israeli 3D digital sculptor, and Sandra Arnold an author at AmericanVideotape.com with vast exposure to media culture.

What are Mass Culture and Fine Arts?

To understand the correlation between fine arts and media culture, we must define each field. Media culture refers to the overall impact and intellectual direction provided by mass media.

This refers to the culture that arises under the influence of mass media. On the other hand, fine arts mainly hold an aesthetic value and have a minor functional role.

The Impact of Media Culture on Fine Arts 

1. Access to a Larger Audience

The strive for new clients is a primary goal for many private establishments. Unlike previous years, visits to galleries and art showrooms have been on a constant drop.

This is mainly because millennials have been accustomed to socializing and transacting on online social platforms. Fogelson cites millennials as the primary online consumers of fine art, necessitating an outreach approach that promotes optimal interactions with millennials.

Unlike traditional galleries, mass media exposes fine art to larger specific audiences, thus promoting individual styles. According to Gever, this helps diversify the art industry compared to the traditional dogmatic approach, where gallery owners determined what was suitable for the audience.

The sophistication of technology allows budding artists to break into the field and gain exposure without being overshadowed by famous works.

Unlike showrooms where renowned artists had better chances of landing a spot on the gallery walls, media culture creates room for different styles and tastes and connects artists to the right audience.

2. Monetization of Artwork

At an Artist’s Level

Although media culture ranks as an excellent tool for maximizing the consumer base of fine arts, it is more limiting to individual growth. First, arts have been leveraged as tools for advertisement (Impact of Mass Media on Fine Arts, 2013), thus offer the most benefits to large corporations and established graphic designers.

Even worse, the saturation of fine arts has presented artists with a challenge to monetize their work. This is significantly due to the plethora of royalty-free art platforms, which have instilled consumers with the notion that art should be free.

The publication further shows that fine arts exposure on digital platforms has caused decreased attendance at in-person events, thus crippling ticket sales at art galleries and expositions.

Sandra Arnold implores media culture for serving as a leeway for novice artists to realize optimal growth. Consequentially, this lowers the value of fine art and makes it hard for artists to earn a living from their skills.

However, talent exposure to a specific audience provides quality support, which artists require to advance their careers. Gever identifies one such benefit of media culture: it allows artists to enjoy crowdfunding and pursue their interests.

Art Galleries and Museums

Although media culture is associated with the downfall of galleries, Fogelson offers a neat approach that allows art galleries to expose their work to a larger audience and gain more income. Fogelson suggests the gamification of museums in virtual realities similar to Minecraft. This approach would appeal to millennials and broaden the sources of income to range from in-game purchases to licensing of cultural assets.

By embracing this approach, art museums could retain their publicity and gain the upper hand in event planning. Additionally, galleries could make the most of virtual events, thus exposing their work to a larger audience.

This allows for flexibility in operations, efficient ticket sales and also paves the way for digital arts.

1. A Threat to Traditional Artistry

Like Sandra Arnold, many artists feel that media culture is slowly ridding art of the human touch. Unlike traditional artists, modern artists rely on a mouse, a touchpad, and a computer to create enigmatic output.

Even worse, there is a surge of AI projects which can produce quality art with little human intervention. This may impair judgment of quality art and make it hard for artists to gain a reputation in the field.

2. A Boost in Creativity

Media culture has greatly revolutionized art to meet the demands of the current audience. Besides connecting artists to relevant markets, media culture grants artists all the essential tools to bring their creativity to life.

Final Verdict

Although the fine arts are essential for their aesthetic appeal, today they are significantly driven by mass culture. While the former threatens the traditional arts field, it offers an excellent chance for fine art to grow in value and popularity.

For this, artists have to collaborate with current and upcoming technologies and adapt to the changes in consumer demands.

Author Bio: Timothy Miller is an author with vast exposure to software development, online art markets, and AI. Owing to his exposure, Miller offers academic and expert help on Mypaperwriter.com, thus helps students and employers resolve various challenges.

References:

Section 6: Overall Impact of Technology on the Arts. (2013). Retrieved 20 May 2021, from https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2013/01/04/section-6-overall-impact-of-technology-on-the-arts/

Gever, E. (2012). Technology and art: Engineering the future. Retrieved 20 May 2021, from https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-19576763

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Some artists focused on the eerie silence left behind by the intense lockdowns from March to June, while others tried to find ways to spread hope, motivation, and courage even in this bleak time. Unsurprisingly, many graffiti and street artists have incorporated COVID-19 themes into their work this past year.

As the virus is under some control, and lockdowns are gradually being lifted across the world, people have started stepping outside with precautionary measures. Muralists are taking this as an opportunity to utilize public places to showcase art and spread awareness. Toilet papers, face masks, and disinfectants are some of the common subjects of street artists. However, others are emphasizing boosting immunity, enhancing will power, and staying fit.

Here, we share with you some of the most creative COVID-19 themed art adorning cities all over the world. These contributions are popping up with each passing day as artists are becoming more and more involved. Some well-known murals related to COVID-19 are:

The gratitude, dedication, and support provided by healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 crisis are the most common subjects in street art. One graffiti artist in London did a commendable job highlighting the contribution of doctors during the pandemic. In the mural picturized above, the artists paid homage to junior doctors.

He specifically highlighted the contributions of resident doctors because they are constantly putting their lives at risk, work more, and are paid less in comparison to the senior physicians. However, they are still working day and night with full enthusiasm. An artwork specially dedicated to the resident staff boosts their morale and show them that their contributions are appreciated.

At a time when street artists were focusing on common pandemic related themes, Italian street artist Laika took a different step and focused on the restaurant staff. Since eateries are now opening, Laika focused on a Chinese restaurant owner, Sonia, wearing a fully covered gown along with a face mask.

Sonia’s message in Italian translates to “There’s an epidemic of ignorance going around… we must protect ourselves!”The artist tried to give a message that though the restaurants are opening, precautionary measures are still important. People working at the restaurant are equally affected by the pandemic. Thus, they are back to work but at risk and following new operating procedures.

Another great example is seen in Amsterdam, where the famous street artist FAKE painted a nurse with a Superman logo, titled Super Nurse! The nurse is shown wearing a mask, which is a typical representation of COVID-19. What is unusual is that she has the “S” logo of Superman on the front of the nurse’s uniform, reminding everyone that nurses, along with other frontline workers, are the true superheroes. 

The idea is to highlight the exceptional role played by the nursing staff in this condition of turmoil. These nurses are putting their life in danger serving the COVID-19 patients. Not just in the critical care unit, they are also doing the testing. The artwork received great recognition and appreciation globally, and it was selected as a digital art installation in London.

In Germany, another street artist, Uzey, took up his paints to encourage people to stay strong despite the hardships the pandemic has brought. The art shows a fully covered person carrying a pack of COVID-19 germs in his hand. The picture reveals that no matter how covered a person is, the virus is everywhere. Thus, maintaining social distance and practicing isolation is the only safe solution. Various colors used in the artwork are intended to bring some light to the colorless life these days. This street art gives a friendly message to humanity and tries to boost morale.

In Indonesia, a campaign related to COVID-19 murals started in August 2020. This street art in Jakarta quickly gained popularity as it depicts the message very clearly and powerfully. It highlights many things: firstly, it shows that the man is carrying a shield, which is somewhat similar to a mask, and therefore subconsciously, you are made to think that wearing a mask is the best defense against the virus.

Secondly, it brings a message of hope for the masses – it gives strength to the affected individuals for regaining their health. People who are still in a state of fear can also get some motivation from the thought-provoking art. It shows that we can fight and overcome any germ or virus, only if we have the will and if we take the right measures.

Some fans even interpreted the painting with respect to organizations that stood firm to safeguard society. Most notably, healthcare and human service organizations, but also small businesses and individuals initiated small efforts to help their communities from the financial and emotional effects of the pandemic.

For instance, many individuals started campaigns to buy from small businesses in their community to keep them from going out of business. Similarly, small businesses, like cleaning companies, started offering door-to-door and contact-less services for the safety of their clients.

Another street artist drew this painting of a nurse who is covered from head to toe in a gown, gloves, and face mask. She is portrayed as an angel of love with colorful wings. The artist showed how the nurse is ready to go for work. Such contributions for supporting the doctors, nurses, testing professionals, and the janitorial staff seems valuable in this crucial time. These people are the real heroes who are diligently performing their duties in high-risk areas.

Conclusion

In short, COVID-19 murals are brightening the streets across the globe. From humorous and playful styles to more serious and sympathetic themes, street artists have done an excellent job highlighting the issue. From highlighting the importance of healthcare workers to aiming at reviving the mood of infected individuals, each has highlighted the importance of working through the pandemic together.

Along with the artists mentioned here, tons of other artists like Pebsy, Pyritt, AFK, Jesus Cruz, and many others have made valuable contributions. They’ve expressed a collective feeling of fear, rage, and frustration developed during the lockdowns and isolations. And they have also helped us in regaining lost hope.

Thinking out of the box and taking out time in stenciling and painting the walls is a commendable step in uniting the society in this unprecedented time. Was one your favorite?

Author Bio:
Nouman provides ghostwriting and copywriting services. His educational background in the technical field and business studies helps him in tackling topics ranging from career and business productivity to web development and digital marketing. He occasionally writes articles for carpet cleaning. 

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