DHIS 22A04 - Art and Destruction, can the Past be erased?

The first purpose of this art seminar is to tackle the difficult question of “complete destruction” or annihilation even of the past, during a conflict or in societies – and this, not only of people but also of cities (Urbicides), works of arts, elements of memories as if to eradicate their very existence. We will see that although we might see a surge, this recent attitude (Bamiyan Buddha statues, Palmyra) has its roots in remote rites and customs (damnatio memoriae, destruction of buildings, revolutionary and religious vandalism, and autodafés) and have always be part of conquest and control policies. To destroy a work of art, to burn books is indeed part of a complex and violent strategy, a political and social radical scheme to reshape the past, to deny memory to a community and to build anew according to ideology. The second aspect we will deal with is destruction as a part of the artistic process. We will study relevant works of arts and artists who work(ed) on the very concept of destruction. To go further, we will dedicate this 2020 session to the NON FINITO concept in arts. The very idea of un- achievement or inachevé in French is puzzling. Willingly, because of the maker's views or tragically, because of circumstances, an uncomplete work of art, be it in music, literature or plastic arts, is a riddle all the more interesting to analyze and understand. Potentiality and actuality are concepts we will trace back all the way to Aristotle's approach. We will work on theoretical aspects and historical examples, with texts and videos, articles and archives, write short stories, poems and essays, design an imaginary museum. To be creative, we will design and make “lucky charms” against destruction, evil, disease... each student being asked to produce an artefact according to his or her culture and traditions, to be presented to the class as an apotropaic object according to the anthropology definition. The final project is to have an interactive exhibition of the “lucky charms” and to promote dialogue on the campus along with the artistic associations and clubs.

Sophie ROCHEFORT GUILLOUET

Séminaire

English

Spring 2022-2023

The grades will be divided into two parts: 50% for academic and creative activities in class (1/ an oral presentation 2/ a short story based on a corpus of selected pictures) and 50% for a resource paper or video project, the participation to the Musée imaginaire and the lucky charm artefact.

Team work on concepts. Document analysis. Oral presentations and creative writing activities