abstract expressionism
art movement that emerged after WWII containing spontaneous self-expressionism, non-representational imagery, & distinct paint application. Most were paintings.
aesthetics
branch of western philosophies concerned with critical reflections on art, beauty, and taste
chiaroscuro
the use of various tones (black, white, gray) creating the illusion of volume in drawings
color wheel
circular arrangement of the hues of the spectrum
composition
organization of the elements of an artwork in such a way that harmony, balance, unity, and variety are achieved
context
consists of the external conditions that surround a work of art, such as historical events, religious attitudes, social norms, and so on
craft
a category of art that requires special mannuel skills and is often functional in origin
deconstruction
a method for analysing works of art developed in the late 20th century, in which artworks are treaed as texts that can have a variety of meanings bases on the person who perceieves them, emphasizing subjectivity
feminist criticism
artwork or art criticism based on the idea that women should have political, economic, and social rights that are equal to those of men
formal analysis
the study of artwork that focuses on the elements of the language of art and the principles of composition
formalist criticism
the analysis and critique of an artwork based on its compostition and the arrangement of its elements and principles
iconography
the study of visual images and symbols within their culture and historical contexts
kitsch
works that are done in what is considered to be poor taste
media
traditional and nontradiotional materials used to make art, such as charcoal, paint, clay bronze, videos, or computers
patron
a person who supports the artist and the arts
perspective
a system of rendering the illusion of three-dimensional depth on a flat, or two-dimensional surface
post-structuralism
various branches of art criticism that are a reaction against structuralism and hold that there is not one single meaning in artwok, but rather multiple meanings
psychoanalytic criticism
art criticism that holds that art should be studied as the product of individuals who are shaped by their pasts, their unconscious urges, and their social histories
representational art
art that presents nature, people, and objects from the world in a recognizable form
semiotics
the study of signs and symbols in written and verbal communication
structuralism
art criticism that holds that the understanding of a single work of art is based on the overall structure of art and the complex interrelationship of all its parts, because structure gives the meaning to an artwork like a sentence determines the meaning o
style
specific recognizable attributes and characeristics that consistent and coherent in the artwork within a historical period, within a cultural tradition, or of an individual artist
subject matter
the specific idea of an artwork
time
the art element that is involved in performances or video work, or is required in the viewing of static artwork
visual culture
art criticism that integrates and studies all of the visual components of contemporary culture, including fine art, television, advertising, and so on