DHIS 22A04 - Art and Destruction

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, works of arts, books, and 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 been 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 a new one 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 a session to Black, one to Evil in arts and another to the non finito concept in arts. This very idea of un- achievement or inachevé in French is puzzling. Either 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 an interesting riddle 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.

Every week, I will send you a class newsletter dealing with a specific topic and will keep you updated with currently running exhibitions. The exhibition dedicated to Zombies at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris closed but there are some perfectly fitting the purpose opening soon!

Team works on concepts. Document analysis.

Oral presentations (topics chosen from a list during the first class) from Häxan to Arte povera, and from Goya to Tarantino.

Creative workshops (how to make an amulet) and writing activities.

Un Musée imaginaire

The grade will be divided into two parts: 50% for academic and creative activities (an oral presentation + class participation) and 50% for a resource paper, a short story, or an artistic project. + participation to the Musée imaginaire (Session N°12).