Painting influenced by globalization
Exchange of ideas results in the world becoming inseparable with globalization. As Tyler Cowen argued that Globalization has reduced the limits of location. (2003) “it is a process by which the world is becoming increasingly interconnected as a result of massively increased trade and culture exchange.” (BBC,2015) It means worldwide exports and communication become increasingly easier and frequent. Extensively sharing ideas among individuals will be unrestricted with the development of internet. Actually, sharing ideas is Unavoidable and we are usually influenced by others. According to Mark Twain: “Substantially all ideas are second hand, consciously or unconsciously drawn from a million outside sources.” Based on above viewpoints, there are two contradictory consequences of sharing ideas. Obviously, sharing ideas can provide more choices and create a greater range of expression, therefore, it will create new hybrid forms which promote diversity. However, some people argue that sharing ideas can lead to homogeneousness and authentic culture may be on the hazard. This contrary effect is particularly obvious in culture，because “culture is a fragile phenomenon which is constantly changing and easy to lose for it exists only in our mind.”(O’Neil,2016) It means that culture is easily influenced by sharing ideas which may promote the diversity of culture or make them similar. Cultural exchange directly effected arts, because the development of arts roots in the development of culture. Meanwhile, painting plays an important role in art, that's why painting usually reflects the development of the economy and culture even politics of an age. so we can say that painting is deeply influenced by sharing ideas.
This essay will argue that sharing ideas results in painting style producing greater diversity and great vitality or homogeneousness and insignificance; It will firstly summarize the main arguments about Tyler Cowen and Benjamin Barber and critique respectively; I chose a position and come forward with three points then offer examples from three famous Chinese painters, zao wou-ki, Wang Guangyi and Zeng Fanzhi ;
The process of sharing ideas may not only promote the diversity, but also may have the threat of homogeneousness. Culture is not created by one country, but by interaction, which promotes variety and quality, as suggested by Tyler Cowen（2003）. O’Neil and Marwan M. Kraidy develop this idea, Marwan M. Kraidy believes that cultural globalization results in creating new form of hybrid. (2002) O’Neil claims that diverse societies create subculture which is a group of people who share culture traits that set them apart from the rest of society. It means that subculture will diversify the culture of individuals. Such as Vietnamese Americans, African Americans who exist in United States today. (2006) In addition, from economy aspect, Dr. Madsen Pirie, who was a British researcher, author and educator, argued that sharing ideas in global scope results in the world becoming an integrated economy instead of a series of relatively isolated economies. It will develop market and provide more opportunities of global trade, create more wealth and makes life full of variety. (2012) However, some opposite opinions such as Benjamin Barber claims that sharing ideas will lead to homogeneousness and may threaten the original authentic culture. (2003) For instance, fast food become an assault on the idea of food as a social ritual. John Tomlinson agree with Barber and argue that cultural globalization will destroy cultural diversity and lead to homogenization. (2001)
In my opinion, I basically agree with Cowen’s idea. Barber's point is too negative, he neglects the vitality of authentic culture. Culture doesn't extinct, it only changes. None of the culture will remain stagnant, there will be a process of interaction and development during which we cannot neglect the opportunities provided by sharing ideas. Cultural borrowing may damage the dominant culture because some cultures are too strong. For example, particular ethic cultures are easily lost. However, it has diversified the culture of individuals by introducing subculture or some hybrid forms.
Wou-ki Zao
Sharing ideas provides many opportunities for culture blending and results in creating new genre which promotes the diversity of culture. Further more, it won’t cause any damage to authentic culture, on the contrary, sharing ideas would develop authentic culture. To an artist, painting will no longer be confined to a simplex form, divers options can lead to the change of an artist’s painting style. For example, Zao Wou-ki, who is a famous Chinese artist. Born in China, have been learning Chinese painting and calligraphy since he was a child. He grew tired of traditional Chinese painting in his teens, thinking that contemporary Chinese painting was nothing but copying the masterpieces of the predecessors, and that was what retarded the development of Chinese painting. Under his tutor’s suggestion, he chose to study painting in France when he was 27years old. He showed a fusion of oriental and western cultures and displays the lingering oriental charm in his works by using painting as a medium and the skill of “freehand” from traditional Chinese painting. He once said in an interview that the way he holds the painting brush rooted in Chinese calligraphy, that was why his hands were flexible compared with other western artists’ hands. We could find symbols like inscriptions on bones in his works for he enjoyed seeking inspiration from traditional Chinese culture. For example, in his works (wind. 1954), the vertical composition is a rectangle, a long line and a short one which look like inscriptions on bones gather together near the golden section ratio on the bottom. The background colors are white and purple, they were painted by utilizing western oil painting dyeing skill. According to this artist’s experience, we know that learning and accepting other cultures would help to form a new genre so that cultural diversity will be accelerated. That is a development to authentic culture, not damage.
Albrecht Dürer
Zeng Fan-zhi
more choices may lead to appropriation become common, even artists who use appropriation in their artworks or copy some form from other artists, this does not mean that these artworks are same, actually these artworks have different meanings, they only appear a bit similar on the surface. For example, the inspiration of Zeng Fan-zhi’s art work Rabbit roots in the Rabbit of Durer, moreover, he copied and magnified it then placed it into a ball of messy lines. It seemed plagiarizing, however, it was completely different. The Rabbit of Durer was to explorer the techniques of painting, but the Rabbit of Zeng Fan-zhi was a metaphor of the bound and depressed ideology under that political environment. Therefore, even the two rabbits may look similar, but they are totally different. We can even say that appropriation like this will endow new vitality to classic masterpieces as well as enrich diversity.
Wang Guang-yi
Universal languages (pop art) might have similar forms but will not damage the local culture, on the contrary, it is a good way to strengthen the local culture and publicize it all over the world. For instance, Wang Guang-yi , who is a Chinese famous painter. Politic pop art originated from the UK and has been utilized as an important means in mass media. One of the iconic works is Coca-Cola. A.Kosolapov who was an artist from Former Soviet Union, was influenced by pop art and then he created his work Lenin and Coca-Cola. The Great Criticism-Coca-Cola of Wang Guang-yi looks like plagiarizing. An armed Chinese soldier in woodcut picture form occupies the them part of the tableau, the indigo and red background printed with numbers is filled with bright yellow and white marks of Coca-Cola. In fact, the form of woodcut pictures was widely used during the Great Cultural Revolution. Wang Guang-yi utilized the universal language which is widely and globally accepted to convey the voice of China. This work belongs not only to China but also to the world. At the 20th anniversary of the demolishment of Berlin Wall, Wang Guang-yi’s works were invited to participate the exhibition. In conclusion, sharing ideas provides artists more opportunities to get closer to the world and gives a better propagation to our native culture.
This essay discusses if sharing ideas will lead to diversity or cause homogenization.
After comparing with Cowen’s and Barber’s ideas, I took my stand and I believe that sharing ideas will eventually lead to a great range of expression.
There are three examples which can support my points.
First, sharing ideas will produce new forms of hybrid, which presents as producing a new genre in painting and increasing the diversity.
Second, divers options make appropriation more common. Artists will use classic works for reference and adapt them to convey their own ideas. That is not simple copy but inheritance and development. It endows new vitality to the classic works and enriches the diversity.
Third, sharing ideas bring us universal languages like pop art. By combining with this universal form, local culture is able to capture the opportunity to move towards to the world. In this way, the local culture is promoted and the diversity is accelerated.
In terms of the points of view mentioned above, sharing ideas frequently without limitations of time and space has the advantages of accelerating and enriching the diversity. In the future, it can be foreseen that sharing ideas is inevitable and it will certainly keep an ascending tendency.